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Raptors :( :((
Knew Philly was a tough ask but was hoping for a competitive series
 
NBA play-offs: Golden State Warriors beat Denver Nuggets to lead 3-0

The Golden State Warriors won 118-113 at the Denver Nuggets to take a 3-0 lead in the first round of the NBA Western Conference play-offs.

Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole each scored 27 points for the Warriors, who are aiming for their first championship in four years.

They will seal the series with another win at the Ball Arena on Sunday.

Nikola Jokic had 37 points for Denver, who have lost seven consecutive play-off games dating back to last season.

The Dallas Mavericks survived a fightback by the Utah Jazz to win 126-118 in Salt Lake City and take a 2-1 lead in their series.

Jalen Brunson (31 points) led seven different Dallas players in double digits to compensate for the absence of Slovenian star Luka Doncic, who has yet to play in the series because of a calf strain.

Also in the Western Conference on Thursday, Desmond Bane scored 26 points to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 104-95 win at the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Bane sank seven three-pointers as the second-seeded Grizzlies overcame a 26-point deficit in Minneapolis to lead the series 2-1.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/61186112
 
Brandon Ingram scored 30 points and Jonas Valanciunas hit 26 points and 15 rebounds as the New Orleans Pelicans levelled their play-off series against the Phoenix Suns with a 118-103 win.

Valanciunas finished with a career-high play-off points tally. CJ McCollum added 18 points and nine rebounds.

The teams are tied 2-2 needing four games to win their first-round series.

Elsewhere, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Golden State Warriors 126-121 to keep their play-off hopes alive.

The Warriors now lead 3-1 after winning the first three games, and if the Nuggets go on to overturn the 3-0 deficit they will become the first NBA team to do so.

When asked whether his team can make NBA history Nikola Jokic, who scored 37 points in the game, said: "We've really got our second wind, so why not?"

Champions the Milwaukee Bucks went 3-1 up in their series against the Chicago Bulls with a 119-95 win. The Bucks brought on Grayson Allen who scored 27 points in 28 minutes to give his side the opportunity to close out the series on Wednesday.

The Miami Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks 110-86 to take a 3-1 lead as Jimmy Butler claimed 36 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals.

BBC
 
Will Raptors create history and overturn a 3-0 series deficit vs. 76ers?

The Toronto Raptors looked dead and buried after Game 3, with Joel Embiid sucking the air out of Scotiabank Arena with his game-winning 3-pointer in the final second.

Adding to the fact Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes went down with an ankle injury in Game 1, the Raptors' season was on the ropes, but after winning on their home floor in Game 4, the Raptors carried that momentum into Game 5 and now have an unlikely shot at leveling the series.

Led by Pascal Siakam's 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, the Raptors came into Philadelphia and brought the series to 3-2 thanks to a 103-88 win in Game 5.

Barnes was back in the starting lineup after coming off the bench in Game 4, adding 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Precious Achiuwa added 17 points off the bench and OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. finished with 16 points apiece.

Even more impressive, they did it without All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet, who missed the contest with a strained hip flexor.


The 76ers are now feeling the heat – especially head coach Doc Rivers – who knows the feeling all too well, letting a playoff lead slip as the series now shifts back to Toronto for a pivotal Game 6.

Win and the Raptors have a shot at doing what no team has done before them.

No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit, however, three teams have rallied to force a Game 7.

Including the Nets and Raptors this season, 145 teams have trailed 3-0. Here is how those situations have played out:

90 got swept (including Nets)
41 lost in 5 games
10 lost in 6 games
3 lost in 7 games
0 won
In 1951, the New York Knicks came back from 3-0 down in the NBA Finals before losing in Game 7 to the Rochester Royals. In 1994, the Utah Jazz forced a Game 7 in the Western Conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets before going down in Game 7.

The last team to force a Game 7 after trailing 3-0 was the Portland Trail Blazers, who rallied against the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2003 Western Conference playoffs.

13 teams in NBA history have managed to claw their way back from a 3-1 series deficit, with the Cleveland Cavaliers as the only team to do so in an NBA Finals (2016), while the Nuggets are the only team to overcome a 3-1 series deficit twice in the same postseason, beating the Jazz and LA Clippers in the 2020 Playoffs in the bubble.

History is not on the Raptors' side but with a packed house at Scotiabank Arena and the full flight of Jurassic Park behind them, anything is possible.

The Raptors will host the 76ers in Game 6 on Thursday, April 28, with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m. ET.

https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba...series-deficit-76ers/csiezn1vtqdsho9hbjtfubpn
 
The Miami Heat clinched their spot in the NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals after beating the Atlanta Hawks despite missing key forward Jimmy Butler.

With scoring sensation Butler and point guard Kyle Lowry injured, Heat held off the visiting Hawks to win 97-94.

It secured a 4-1 win for the Heat in the best-of-seven first-round play-off.

"We clearly had some adversity in this game not having Kyle or Jimmy, and our group doesn't even blink," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told ESPN.

"That's not even something we have to address. We just pivot and put in the game plan and everybody gets ready and tapes their ankles and gets out there and competes.

"Everybody that played had their fingerprints on this."

Miami will play the winner of the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors, with the Sixers leading 3-2 in their first-round series.

NBA play-off results and schedule
The Heat will have at least six days off before the second round begins - on Monday at the earliest - and will be hoping Butler and Lowry will be fit to return.

Butler, a six-time All-Star, had averaged 30.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists in the series but was ruled out of the fifth game because of right knee inflammation.

In his absence, Victor Oladipo scored 23 points after fighting back from his own injury problems.

Oladipo, 29, said a year ago he was at "the lowest point" after knee and quadriceps injuries, but starred by leading the scoring for the Heat in his first play-off start since August 2020.

After the Hawks recovered to 79-76 with eight minutes and 14 seconds remaining, Oladipo posted seven of Miami's next 13 points as they moved clear at 92-82.

Atlanta fought back and had a couple of chances to level in the final 30 seconds, but a missed shot came before a game-ending steal by Bam Adebayo.

In the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies took a 3-2 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 111-109 victory.

Ja Morant - recently crowned the 2021-22 NBA Most Improved Player - scored 18 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter, netting the Grizzlies' final 11 points which included a tie-breaking lay-up in the final second.

The Phoenix Suns also edged 3-2 ahead after five games of their first-round series against the New Orleans Pelicans thanks to a 112-97 home win.

Mikal Bridges scored 31 points for the Suns, while Chris Paul added 22 points and 11 assists.

BBC
 
NBA superstars Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo demonstrated their talents once again by leading their respective teams to series-clinching play-off wins on Wednesday.

Curry scored 30 points in his first start of the play-offs as the Golden State Warriors earned their place in the Western Conference semi-finals.

The Warriors won 102-98 against the Denver Nuggets, securing a 4-1 victory.

Antetokounmpo scored 33 points as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Chicago Bulls.

The Bucks earned a 116-100 win over the visiting Bulls to reach the Eastern Conference semi-finals, where they will play the Boston Celtics.

Curry, who has been recovering from a foot injury, made five three-pointers, five rebounds and five assists, setting up a Western Conference clash with the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Memphis Grizzlies.

"Steph Curry is a special, special player and you'll probably never see another player like him again," said Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson.

"Some of the threes he made were so incredible, also getting to the rim and making the pocket pass."
 
NBA: Memphis Grizzlies fight back to beat Minnesota Timberwolves and win play-off series

The Memphis Grizzlies fought back to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves and win their play-off series.

The Grizzlies overturned a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 114-106 and take the best-of-seven series 4-2.

Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane scored 23 points each, with Jaren Jackson Jr adding 18 points and 14 rebounds.

The second-seeded Grizzlies will face the third-seeded Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference semi-finals, which begin on Sunday.

It is the first time in seven years that the Grizzlies have advanced beyond the play-offs.

"We stick together, stay on the same page, and I think it really showed on the big stage this series," Bane said.

Elsewhere, the Philadelphia 76ers suffered a huge injury blow as Joel Embiid was sidelined indefinitely.

Embiid, one of the leading candidates for the Most Valuable Player, suffered a right orbital bone fracture and a mild concussion during Friday's win over the Toronto Raptors.

The centre will miss at least the first game of the Eastern Conference semi-final series against the Miami Heat.

Embiid previously missed three weeks of the season in 2018 with a similar injury.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/61282237
 
Steve Kerr, coach of the Golden State Warriors, claimed that the Memphis Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks "broke the code" among players after Gary Payton II suffered a fractured elbow.

Grizzlies guard Brooks was ejected after three minutes for fouling Payton II in the air as he drove for a basket.

"I don't know if it was intentional, but it was dirty," Kerr said.

The Grizzlies edged the Warriors 106-101 to level the best-of-seven Western Conference play-off series at 1-1.

In a physical encounter, Warriors forward Draymond Green also needed stiches in his face after an elbow by Xavier Tillman shortly after Brooks' dismissal.

"Play-off basketball is supposed to be physical, everybody's got to compete, everybody's got to fight for everything but there's a code in this league that players follow," added Kerr.

"You never put a guy's season or career in jeopardy by taking somebody out in mid-air and clubbing him across the head and ultimately fracturing Gary's elbow.

"Dillon Brooks broke the code. That's how I see it."

BBC
 
The Phoenix Suns and the Miami Heat lead their best-of-seven play-off series 2-0 after respective victories over the Dallas Mavericks and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Chris Paul scored 28 points for the Suns in a 129-109 win over the Mavericks in the Western Conference.

"We just did what we were supposed to. We won two games at home," said Paul.

In the Eastern Conference, the Heat also took advantage of being at home in a 119-103 victory over the 76ers.

Bam Adebayo scored 23 points and Jimmy Butler 22 for the hosts, while Tyrese Maxey scored a game-high 34 points for Philadelphia.

The 76ers will hope Joel Embiid will be back for the first of their two home games, on Friday, but coach Doc Rivers conceded: "He's got so many steps to go through. I don't think he's cleared any of them right now. So we just have to wait and see."

The Mavericks, who also host the next two games in their series, outscored the Suns 32-26 in the second quarter to take a 60-58 lead, with Luka Doncic top scoring with 35 points.

However, Paul scored 14 of his points in the fourth quarter as his side won it 40-26 to surge to victory.

"(We) just had to be a little bit more aggressive," Paul said.

"That second quarter we started turning it over. They got it going. Shooters were making shots and we just wanted to stay the course."
 
Joel Embiid returned from injury to help the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Miami Heat in game three of their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series.

Embiid, who had a concussion and facial fracture, scored 18 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in a 99-79 victory, to trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

In the Western Conference play-offs, the Dallas Mavericks ended an 11-game losing streak against the Phoenix Suns.

The Mavericks beat the top-seeded Suns 103-94 to cut their deficit to 2-1.

Jalen Brunson led the Mavericks with 28 points, while Luka Doncic narrowly missed out on a triple-double for Dallas, finishing with 26 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists.

"We played with pace and we played defence," said Doncic. "When we get stops, we're a different team. If we play like this every game, we have a chance.

"Phoenix is an amazing team, they're the number one team. It's going to be tough to beat them any time, but we did our job."

In Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey scored all 21 of his points in the second half with Sixers team-mate Danny Green also collecting the same total.

Jimmy Butler led the Heat with a game-high 33 points and nine rebounds, while James Harden added 17 points.

"I tried to push as much as I can, I'm glad that we got the win," said Embiid.

He added that he had dealt with "a bunch" of concussion symptoms during the week, and said: "I didn't think I had a lot of energy, honestly. I was really trying to really get through it and kind of just use my presence out there as a decoy."

BBC
 
Devin Booker led a third-quarter surge as the Phoenix Suns beat the Dallas Mavericks 110-80 to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semi-finals.

The Mavericks had closed to within a point at 49-48 shortly after half-time.

But Booker scored 12 of his 28 points as the Suns outscored Dallas 33-14 in the third quarter to take command.

The Suns can clinch a place in the conference finals by winning game six on Thursday but the away team is yet to win in the best-of-seven series.

Deandre Ayton finished with 20 points for Phoenix, while team-mates Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson scored 14 points each.

Luka Doncic claimed 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks, with Jalen Brunson adding 21.

NBA play-offs: Curry helps Warriors to 3-1 lead over Grizzlies
In the Eastern Conference semi-finals, the Miami Heat beat the Philadelphia 76ers 120-85 to take a 3-2 lead in the series.

Seven players scored in double figures for the Heat, with Jimmy Butler claiming a game-high 23 points while Max Strus produced his first double-double of the post-season with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Tributes paid to Hall of Famer Lanier

NBA commissioner Adam Silver led the tributes to Hall of Famer Bob Lanier, who died this week at 73 after a brief illness.

Lanier had a 14-season career from 1970 to 1984, averaging 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds in 959 career games for the Detroit Pistons and the Milwaukee Bucks, and he also served as president of the National Basketball Players Association.

Silver said in a statement: "Bob Lanier was among the most talented centres in the history of the NBA, but his impact on the league went far beyond what he accomplished on the court.

"For more than 30 years, Bob served as our global ambassador and as a special assistant to David Stern and then me, traveling the world to teach the game's values and make a positive impact on young people everywhere. It was a labour of love for Bob, who was one of the kindest and most genuine people I have ever been around."



BBC
 
The Miami Heat secured their place in the Eastern Conference finals after a 99-90 win over the Philadelphia 76ers gave them a 4-2 play-off series win.

Jimmy Butler scored 32 points and Max Strus added 20 points and 11 rebounds in the Heat's victory.

In the Western Conference, Luka Doncic scored 33 points to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Phoenix Suns 113-86 and tie up their series at 3-3.

The decisive game seven will take place in Phoenix on Sunday.

All six games so far have been won by the team playing at home.

Slovenian star Doncic also recorded 11 rebounds, eight assists and four steals in a comfortable win for his side.

His tally meant he has scored more than 30 points for the third time in the series, while he has provided more than 25 points in all six games.

"For me, this team is special," said Doncic. "These are great guys and we play hard and we help each other so that's what gives me hope."

The winner of the Mavericks and the Suns will play either the Golden State Warriors or the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference finals. The Warriors lead that series 3-2.

In the Eastern Conference finals, Miami will play either the Milwaukee Bucks or the Boston Celtics.

The Bucks, who won the NBA title last season, lead their play-off series 3-2.

"We're not scared of nobody," the Heat's Butler told ESPN. "Everybody has been prepared for this all year."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/61402656
 
NBA play-offs: Boston Celtics knock out defending champion Milwaukee Bucks

Defending champions the Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated from the NBA play-offs after a heavy defeat by the Boston Celtics in their Eastern Conference semi-final decider.

The Celtics won game seven 109-81 at home and will now face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.

Grant Williams hit 27 points, including seven three-pointers, for Boston, while Jayson Tatum added 23.

Giannis Antetokounmpo top scored for the Bucks with 25 points.

The two-time former MVP started strongly as the Bucks led 26-20 after the first quarter, but then cooled off as the Celtics streaked away.

Boston converted 22 of their 55 three-point attempts, while Milwaukee made only four of their 33 efforts from deep.

The Celtics, who have won a joint-record 17 NBA titles along with the Los Angeles Lakers, move on to their fourth conference finals appearance in the last six years, seeking their first title since 2008.

The Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks play their Western Conference semi-finals game seven later on Sunday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/61460895
 
Defending champions the Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated from the NBA play-offs after a heavy defeat by the Boston Celtics in their Eastern Conference semi-final decider.

The Celtics won game seven 109-81 at home and will now face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.

Grant Williams hit 27 points, including seven three-pointers, for Boston, while Jayson Tatum added 23.

Giannis Antetokounmpo top scored for the Bucks with 25 points.

The two-time former MVP started strongly as the Bucks led 26-20 after the first quarter, but then cooled off as the Celtics streaked away.

Boston converted 22 of their 55 three-point attempts, while Milwaukee made only four of their 33 efforts from deep.

The Celtics, who have won a joint-record 17 NBA titles along with the Los Angeles Lakers, move on to their fourth conference finals appearance in the past six years, seeking their first title since 2008.

In Sunday's other game-seven fixture, the Dallas Mavericks booked their place in the Western Conference finals with a 123-90 victory over hosts the Phoenix Suns.

Luka Doncic recorded 35 points and 10 rebounds, while Spencer Dinwiddie scored 30 points off the bench and Jalen Brunson added 24.

The top-seeded Suns were early favourites to win the 2022 NBA championship.

"I don't know what to say but this was an amazing team win," said Slovenia's Doncic. "Everybody was locked in, everybody was playing as hard as they can. We didn't take one play off.

"This is an incredible team win."

Dallas will face the third-seeded Golden State Warriors in the conference finals. Game one is in San Francisco on Wednesday.

BBC
 
Mavericks are definitely the underdogs going in but i hope they give it their best.

Doncic is definitely one of the best right now but how he handles these tough games but would be very interesting!

Europeans player usually fizzle out but I’m hoping Doncic doesn’t go that way.

Dinwiddie (best trade ever lol) and Doncic vs Klay and steph it is going to be, assuming Poole doesn’t get too much in hot form.

I wasn’t in Dallas in 2011 so this is really exciting to me can’t wait!
 
Jimmy Butler's 41-point haul powered the Miami Heat to a 118-107 comeback win over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals opener.

The Heat trailed by eight points at half-time, but roared into a 76-64 lead, scoring 22 points for the concession of just two in a period of third-quarter dominance.

Butler scored 17 of his points in the third quarter.

"MVP Jimmy did his thing. He put us on his back," Heat guard Tyler Herro said.

The second contest in the seven-game series is on Thursday in Miami. The Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks contest their Western Conference finals opener on Wednesday, with the winners of the respective series meeting in June's finals.

The 40-point effort was Butler's fifth in the postseason during his three-season stint with the Heat. The only player with more is franchise icon Dwyane Wade with seven.

"I know what I'm capable of, I don't do this to score 40 points," Butler said

"I play the way I play to win by all means necessary and it just so happened that I score 40. If I score 40 and lose, I'll be pretty [ticked] off."

Boston's star Jayson Tatum had a quieter night. He picked up 29 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals but also gave up seven turnovers.

"I have to be better in those situations. I've got to take care of the ball better," he said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/61490231
 
Warriors had a plan for Luka, extremely unfortunate but he is only 23 and hopefully the coach will help him with this in the home round.

It was a bad game overall but hopefully we will rebound!
 
Stephen Curry top-scored with 21 points as he helped the Golden State Warriors beat the Dallas Mavericks 112-87 in their Western Conference final opener.

The Warriors restricted Dallas star Luka Doncic to 20 points in what was his lowest score of the play-offs.

"We did what we were supposed to do - protect home court, win the first game," said Curry, who also had a game-high 12 rebounds.

"We had a specific game-plan coming in, and for the most part, we executed it."

Andrew Wiggins scored 19 points for the Warriors and was also key in limiting Doncic's impact.

"'Wiggs' was fantastic. Doncic is as difficult a cover as there is in the league," said Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

"We just asked Wiggs to try to hound him, stay in front of him, keep pressure on him. He did a fantastic job."

Doncic averaged 29 points in the play-off series win against the Utah Jazz and 32.6 points in the semi-final series victory over the Phoenix Suns.

"They did a great job," Doncic said of the Warriors.

"Of course we could do things better. In the first quarter, we had a lot of good looks. The second quarter, too. But not in the second half."

The next game of the best-of-seven series will take place on Friday (02:00 BST Saturday) when the Warriors will again be at home in San Francisco.

The Miami Heat lead the Boston Celtics 1-0 in the Eastern Conference final and they play their second game on Thursday (01:30 BST Friday).

BBC
 
Terrible 3rd qtr cost us the game, it’s not helping that Luca is playing like a lone warrior and it’s not he is selfish but defense is really doing a terrible job.

Don’t see how we will win this series really unfortunate, today’s game Mavs we’re ahead till 3rd qtr and the momentum completely shifted.

Disappointing game as a Mavericks fan.
 
NBA: Bam Adebayo stars for Miami Heat in win over Boston Celtics

Bam Adebayo scored 31 points to help the Miami Heat beat the Boston Celtics 109-103 as his side took a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference play-off final.

Adebayo also managed 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals for his side.

The Celtics, who were 26 points behind at one stage, got to within a point at 93-92 behind late on but the Heat held on for a win on the road.

"I had to pick up my weight. These last couple games, my team was depending on me and I didn't show up," said Adebayo.

"I took it upon myself to lock in and get the win."

Adebayo top scored for his side and his star performance was needed by the Heat, who were without the influential Jimmy Butler for the second half because of a knee inflammation.

"He's a winning player," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Adebayo. "He really is the heart and soul of our group. You can count on him all the time.

"He doesn't get caught up in all the noise. He's just out there competing and playing winning basketball, doing it on both ends."

The Celtics committed 23 turnovers which led to 33 points for the Heat, who had eight turnovers.

Star player Jayson Tatum could only manage 10 points for the home side, with Jaylen Brown top scoring for them with 40 points.

"Unacceptable. I've got to play better," said Tatum. "I feel like I left the guys hanging tonight. That's on me."

Boston coach Ime Udoka added: "We didn't match [their physicality] from the start.

"We got into complaining and let it take us out of our game. It's disappointing to come out that flat in a conference finals game."

Game four of the best-of-seven series is on Monday (01:30 BST Tuesday) in Boston.

In the Western Conference finals, the Golden States Warriors are 2-0 up against the Dallas Mavericks and play the third match of their series on Sunday (02:00 BST Monday).

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/61534920
 
Man its such a close game , Warriors in q3,4 are really something else thats when Mavs falter , unfortunate.. hopefully we win today’s.. go Lukaaa
 
We are definitely not good enough, need a supporting cast for Luka.. not liking the hate he is getting though.. hopefully Mavericks can do it next season.
 
Golden State Warriors beat Dallas Mavericks to close in on NBA finals

The Golden State Warriors are one win away from the NBA finals after beating the Dallas Mavericks 109-100 to go 3-0 up in the Western Conference play-off final.

Stephen Curry scored 32 points for the Warriors and Luka Doncic 40 for the Mavericks.

No team in NBA history has overturned a 3-0 deficit in the play-offs.

"This is probably our best stretch of the season," said Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

"We've got a lot of guys playing at a high level right now."

Game four of the series is in Dallas on Tuesday (02:00 BST on Wednesday).

Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points for the Warriors, who are bidding to reach the NBA finals for the sixth time in eight seasons.

They held a 48-47 lead at half-time but took control in the third quarter, with Curry scoring 11 points to help move the Warriors 78-68 ahead before holding off the Mavericks in the final quarter.

"When you're up 2-0 and you win on the road, it gives you a stranglehold and control of the series. That's huge," said Curry.

"We obviously know that the job's not done, but it's a good feeling to know that we can play with house money on Tuesday and try and get the job done."

The Mavericks went 2-0 and 3-2 down to the Phoenix Suns in the previous round of the play-offs before winning the best-of-seven series 4-3.

"It's not over yet, but it's not going to be easy," said Doncic. "The Warriors are not going to give you anything easy.

"Nobody had us being here in these Conference finals. But I think the Warriors are playing incredible."

In the Eastern Conference series, the Miami Heat lead the Boston Celtics 2-1 with game four in Boston on Monday (01:30 BST on Tuesday).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/61547615
 
Well we finally won one .. basically its Luka or nothing for us lol.

Hopefully next season we are better prepared!
 
Jaylen Brown scored 25 points as the Boston Celtics recovered from a poor first half to win at the Miami Heat and move within one win of the NBA Finals.

After trailing 42-37 at half-time, Boston won 93-80 in Miami to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

Jayson Tatum added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Celtics, who are aiming to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010.

Boston host game six of the best-of-seven series on Friday.

Bam Adebayo produced 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat, who lost at home for the second time in the series after going 6-0 in Miami during the opening two rounds of the play-offs.

Boston took charge in the third quarter, outscoring Miami 32-16, and they opened their first double-digit lead on a Brown turnaround jumper with eight seconds remaining in the quarter to lead 69-58.

Then in the fourth quarter, Brown hit consecutive three-pointers to cap a 24-2 run and give Boston an 83-60 lead.

The Golden State Warriors host the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference play-offs on Thursday, leading 3-1 and knowing victory will see them reach the Finals for the first time in three years.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/61589620
 
celtics vs Gsw would be a worthy final. Mavericks are not ready yet..
 
Well Dallas are out, somewhat an off day(start) for Luka and yeah are out.

Cuban better get some star next year to star alongside Luka.

Looks to be a GSW year once again..
 
The Golden State Warriors beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-110 on Thursday to seal their return to the NBA Finals.

After missing out the past two years, the Warriors clinched a 4-1 win in the Western Conference finals as Klay Thompson scored a game-high 32 points.

They are the first team to reach the Finals six times in eight years since the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.

"This one is special because no-one thought this group would be back here," said the Warriors' Draymond Green.

"After being counted out, [people saying] 'dynasty is over', to get back is fantastic."

Golden State will face either the Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat from 2 June, with Boston having the chance to clinch the Eastern Conference finals at home on Friday.

The Warriors won the NBA title in 2015, 2017 and 2018, beating the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers each time, but lost the 2016 and 2019 finals and missed out on the play-offs while rebuilding their roster in the past two seasons.

The Michael Jordan-led Bulls won six NBA titles from 1991-1998, and Golden State coach Steve Kerr played in the last three of those wins.

"To be in the finals six times in eight years, it just takes an enormous amount of skill and determination and work," he said.

"To get back again is special for all of us. It's so difficult to get to the finals. It's exhausting, stressful, emotional."

'It'll be much sweeter if we complete the mission'
The Warriors have not lost a home play-off game this season, their first post-season run at San Francisco's Chase Centre, which opened in 2019.

Luka Doncic scored 28 points for Dallas, who used a 15-0 run late in the third quarter to give themselves a chance after falling 25 points down.

But Golden State closed the third period with a 94-84 lead before starting the last with consecutive scores from Andrew Wiggins and Green.

Wiggins finished with 18 points and Green 17 while Stephen Curry, named the most valuable player for the Western Conference play-offs, added 15 and nine assists.

"This is a blessing for us to get back here, to get back where we belong," said 34-year-old Curry, who is a two-time NBA MVP.

"It's special to do it in our new building. This isn't the ultimate goal but we've got to celebrate this for all we went through the past three years."

Three-time winner Thompson, who missed 2019-20 after knee surgery and 2020-21 with a torn Achilles tendon, said: "I dreamt about this every day. I'm elated, but I'm still hungry. It'll be much sweeter if we complete the mission next round."

BBC
 
Jimmy Butler scored 47 points - a career play-off high - as Miami Heat beat Boston Celtics 111-103 to send the Eastern Conference finals to a decider.

The winner-takes-all tie is in Miami in the early hours of Monday (01:30 BST).

With two minutes left the game was 99-99 before Butler's three-pointer and three P.J. Tucker free throws allowed Heat to control the closing stages.

"We know what we're capable of. We get to take it back to the crib and win game seven," Butler said.

"We knew we were going to come here and get one. We know we're going to win this next one too."

The winner will face the Golden State Warriors, who defeated Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals, in the NBA Finals that begin on Thursday in San Francisco.

Butler, who had only scored 27 points over the previous three games, added: "My team... my coaches got so much belief in me. They give me that confidence to just go out there and play basketball the right way and just hoop."

He made 16 of his 29 field-goal attempts - including four of eight three-pointers - and all 11 free-throw attempts as he produced his second 40-point game of the series and fourth of the play-offs.

The 32-year-old battled through a sore right knee and thanked a message from former Miami star guard Dwyane Wade for inspiring him.

"He was telling me I could do this," Butler said. "He said 'go out there and continue to build your legacy' and it meant the world to me."

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra added: "Jimmy just brought his competitive will tonight. It was a will that would not let us lose."

Kyle Lowry recorded 18 points and 10 assists before fouling out for the Heat, while Max Strus added 13 points and P.J. Tucker 11.

For Boston, Jayson Tatum registered 30 points and nine rebounds, while Derrick White scored 22 points and Jaylen Brown 20.

Celtics coach Ime Udoka said "sloppy basketball at both ends" was the reason behind the defeat, while reserve White said they were "frustrated" but "everybody is motivated to get on that plane and go down there and get the win".

The Heat, who last won the NBA crown in 2013, are seeking a second finals in three years, having lost to Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, while the Celtics are looking for their first success since 2008 and finals since 2010.

BBC
 
Celtics vs GSW , two most obnoxious states (JK) to fight it out!

Celtics vs Heat was a worthy series. Hopefully it’s a great final
 
It was all going so well for the Golden State Warriors, but they didn't account for a barnstorming fourth quarter fightback as the Boston Celtics stole Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals on the road.

The Celtics won by 120-108 in the end after blitzing the Warriors in the final frame at Chase Center.

The Warriors have been noted for their third quarter runs during their dynastic run and so it proved here. They outscored the Celtics 38-24 in the third to turn a two-point half-time deficit into a 12-point lead. But Boston fought back, and they did so with gusto, reducing it to three by the midway point in the fourth.

Then Derrick White nailed a three to tie it before Al Horford, who led the Celtics with 26 points, hit from range twice - either side of a timeout - to give them a six-point lead.

It was the start of a remarkable 17-0 Celtics run to take command of the series opener, and it came after they had to withstand a barrage in the first quarter from Stephen Curry.

Curry exploded in the first frame in San Francisco for 21 points. In doing so, Curry set a new NBA Finals record for 3-pointers made in a single quarter, eclipsing the previous record of five shared by the Warriors superstar, Ray Allen and Kenny Smith.

He finished with 34 points in the end to lead the Dubs, who dropped their first game at home this postseason.

The Celtics' chief scoring option Jayson Tatum operated more as a facilitator, finishing with 12 points, 13 assists and just two turnovers but finished just 3-for-17 on field goal attempts. The other Jay, Jaylen Brown, helped take on the scoring load instead, with 24 points – including five quick points early in the fourth to reduce the gap – as well as seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in an all-action display.

White also made a massive contribution from the bench, scoring 21 points including 5-of-8 from distance.

Marcus Smart scored 18 points with four threes for Boston. The Celtics point guard and Defensive Player of the Year took criticism from Steve Kerr for what the Golden State coach called "a dangerous play" lunging at Curry's left foot on March 16 in a 110-88 Boston rout that sidelined the 2021 scoring champion for a month before his return in Game 1 of the first round facing Denver.

Andrew Wiggins had 20 points and Klay Thompson had 15 for the Warriors, who completely lost their way in the fourth despite boasting much more experience than their opponents. The Celtics didn't have a single player who has appeared in the NBA Finals before in their lineup.

It was the most experienced member of Boston's young squad, Horford, who led the way as their remarkable fourth quarter surge was enough to take Game 1.

The Celtics are looking to capture their record-breaking 18th title, which would move them past the Lakers, and now are just three wins away from doing it.

The Warriors, who are looking for a fourth title in eight years, will have to win this one from behind after being 21-2 in their previous Game 1s under coach Kerr.

"It's a different feeling. You obviously go into Game 2 with more of a sense of desperation. That's all part of this stuff. We've been in this position before," Kerr said. "Boston played a brilliant quarter. They came in and earned the win."

The series is now fascinatingly poised heading into Game 2 this weekend with the pressure now very much on Golden State to respond.

SKYSports
 
Stephen Curry scored 29 points as the Golden State Warriors beat the Boston Celtics 107-88 in game two of the NBA Finals.

Victory sees the six-time NBA champions level the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

Curry scored five three-pointers as well as making six rebounds and four assists as the Warriors dominated the second half in San Francisco.

"Steph was breathtaking in that third quarter," said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.

"Not just the shot making but the defensive effort. He just doesn't get enough credit for his level of conditioning, physicality and defence.

"People go at him to try to wear him down because they know how important he is to us offensively. And it is pretty dramatic, the difference in Steph's strength and physicality between now and when I first got here eight years ago.

"The guy is amazing; he just keeps working."

The Celtics had picked up where they left off in game one to take an early nine-point lead, but 11 first-half turnovers allowed the Warriors back into the contest to hold a two-point advantage at the break.

In the second half, the Celtics continued to collapse, committing 19 turnovers that led to 33 points for the Warriors.

"For us, that was a little disappointing," said Celtics head coach Ime Udoka.

"That's kind of been a constant theme in the play-offs. When that happens, we're in trouble."

Game three is on Wednesday in Boston. In previous NBA Finals where the series has been tied at 1-1, the team that won game three has gone on to win the championship 82.1% of the time.

Prior to Sunday's game, players and coaches from both teams wore t-shirts that said 'End Gun Violence' on the front following recent shootings in the United States.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/61702165
 
Turning out to be a great final series this. Like Cavs vs GSW..

Hoping Celtics comeback strong
 
NBA Finals: Boston Celtics take series lead with 116-100 win over Golden State Warriors

Jaylen Brown scored 17 of his 27 points in the first quarter as his Boston Celtics side beat the Golden State Warriors 116-100 to take the lead in the NBA Finals.

The Celtics bounced back from game two defeat with Jayson Tatum contributing 26 points and Marcus Smart adding 24.

The 17-time NBA champions take a 2-1 lead into game four of the best-of-seven series in Boston on Friday.

"I wanted to impose my will on the game and be aggressive," said Tatum.

"Whether I miss shots or not, I'm going to keep playing. My team-mates believe in me to make the right play to get the best shot. All that matters is that we got the win."

"They punched us in our mouths in game two, and we responded," added Smart.

The Warriors' Stephen Curry scored a game-high 31 points - including six three-pointers - but was replaced in the fourth quarter after appearing to injure his left leg.

Klay Thompson had 25 points and Andrew Wiggins added 18 for the Warriors, who had narrowed their deficit to four points going into the final quarter.

"We weren't going to catch up," Kerr said of Curry's substitution. "We'll know more [on his status] tomorrow."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/61742161
 
Stephen Curry confirms he will play in Game 4 of the NBA Finals after injury scare

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry avoided a major injury to his left foot and declared himself game ready for Friday night's Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

"I'm going to play," Curry said Thursday. "That's all I know right now."

The Warriors did not practice, instead using Thursday as a rest day.

Curry said he knew Wednesday night that he would be all right, having gone through something similar against the Celtics' Marcus Smart in March.

"Because I went through what I went through in the regular season and coming back, I know exactly what it is and what I've got to deal with and the soreness, pain level and all that," Curry said.

"So once I got checked out last night, I knew I wouldn't have to go get any extra tests just because we've been through this before."

Curry was injured late in the fourth quarter of Golden State's 116-100 loss in Boston in Game 3.

The eight-time All-Star appeared to be in serious pain after Celtics center Al Horford landed on his leg during a battle for a loose ball.

Curry's injury occurred with 4:07 to play and he was removed less than two minutes later when the game appeared out of reach.

Curry finished the Game 3 loss with 31 points and is averaging 31.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.7 steals in the Finals.

The Celtics have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with Game 4 also in Boston.

The two-time league MVP and three-time champion averaged 25.5 points, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds in 64 games during the regular season, his 13th season with the Warriors.

https://www.skysports.com/nba/news/...n-game-4-of-the-nba-finals-after-injury-scare
 
Stephen Curry scored 43 points for the Golden State Warriors as they beat the Boston Celtics 107-97 in game four to level the NBA Finals at 2-2.

Boston led 94-90 with just over five minutes left but 10 consecutive points helped the Warriors to victory.

Curry scored seven three-pointers from 14 attempts and did not appear troubled by a left foot injury sustained in game three of the best-of-seven series.

"I don't rate my performances. I just want to win the game," said Curry.

"For the most part, I didn't think of [the foot]. It doesn't take up too much mental space. I felt like I could do what I wanted on the court."

Klay Thompson scored 18 points for the Warriors, while team-mate Andrew Wiggins contributed 17 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.

Curry is averaging 34.3 points in the series and has made 25 of 51 three-point attempts.

"Steph has carried us through so many lulls," said Thompson. "Come game five, we're going to have to help him out. Asking him to score 43 nightly is ridiculous.

"It's just special to watch what he does. He does it so often that you kind of take it for granted. But I'm mesmerised just like the rest of the crowd was. It looks effortless."

Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum had 23 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots for the Celtics.

"You have to give them credit, they hit some big shots," he said.

"We obviously felt like we had put ourselves in position to win the game and there are a lot of things we wish we had done differently."

Game five of the series is on Monday evening (02:00 BST on Tuesday) in San Francisco.

BBC
 
The Golden State Warriors are one win away from a seventh NBA title after Andrew Wiggins inspired his team to a 104-94 win over the Boston Celtics.

The Warriors lead the series 3-2 and can claim a fourth title in eight years with victory in game six of the best-of-seven contest in Boston on Thursday.

Wiggins led Golden State with 26 points while Klay Thompson added a further 21.

But Stephen Curry, who starred with 43 points in game four, missed all nine of his three-point attempts on Tuesday.

Curry had never before gone without a three-pointer in 133 career play-off games, but Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said the player was "probably due a game like this".

Wiggins' performance comes 36 years after his father, Mitchell, came off the bench to lead the Houston Rockets to victory against the same opponents in game five of the 1986 NBA Finals.

"It's an opportunity of a lifetime," Wiggins said. "It's something I've worked hard for, something the team has worked hard for, so I'm excited. I can't wait."

He added: "We're here and we're hungry. The team that wants it the most is going to get it, and we want it."

Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 27 points for the Celtics, who had led the series 2-1.

But, as was the case in their Eastern semi-final against the Milwaukee Bucks, they now require back-to-back wins to triumph.

BBC
 
The Golden State Warriors beat the Boston Celtics to claim their fourth NBA title in eight years and first since 2018.

The Warriors won 103-90 in game six in Boston to clinch the series 4-2.

Having finished 2019-20 with a dire 15-50 record, they are also the first team to go from the league's worst side to a championship in two years.

Stephen Curry, twice the most valuable player in the regular season, was NBA Finals MVP for the first time.

The 34-year-old point guard averaged 31.2 points in the six games and scored 34 points in Thursday's win, adding seven assists and seven rebounds.

Andrew Wiggins scored 18 points and Jordan Poole 15 as Golden State won the NBA championship for the first time in four years.

They also won the title in 2015 and 2017, but lost the 2016 and 2019 finals before missing out on the play-offs in the past two seasons while rebuilding their squad.

Kevin Durant left the San Francisco-based franchise as a free agent in 2019, while Curry and Klay Thompson - who scored 12 points on Thursday - were injured during the 2019-20 season.

The duo, along with key defensive player Draymond Green, have played a key role in their four title wins.

"We found a way to just get it done," said Curry, who was the seventh overall draft pick by the Warriors in 2009.

"You always have a doubt, but you know how long the road is to get back here because of how hard it is to win at this level."

The Celtics led 14-2 after four minutes and 22-16 late in the first quarter before the Warriors went on a 21-0 run to go 37-22 up with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half.

When Curry scored three three-pointers in the first six minutes of the third quarter, pushing Golden State's lead to 72-50. he nodded his head and began pointing to his ring finger.

"We built this for like 10 or 11 years and that means a lot when you get to this stage because you know how to win," said Curry.

"Everybody who has been a part of this knows what that is about. This one hits different, for sure."

Golden State beat the Dallas Mavericks to win the Western Conference and become the first team to reach the Finals six times in eight years since the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.

The Michael Jordan-led Bulls won six NBA titles from 1991-1998, and Warriors coach Steve Kerr played in the last three of those wins.

"I'm thrilled for Steph [Curry]," said Kerr. "To me this is his crowning achievement in what's already been an incredible career.

"I'm obviously thrilled for everyone in that room, and a lot of people had a big hand in this, but the thing with Steph is, without him, none of this happens."

Curry's accuracy from beyond the arc has transformed the game and he broke the league's all-time three-point record in December.

Players in every position are now expected to be able to shoot - and guard against - three pointers.

Curry is the seventh player to win at least four championships and two regular-season MVP awards, after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Bill Russell.

BBC
 
The point on Dynasty holds good. Congratulations to the Splash brothers it was a worthy victory.
 
Paolo Banchero has been selected as the number one pick at the NBA draft by the Orlando Magic.

The 19-year-old forward played for Duke University's Blue Devils, averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 39 starts.

Magic finished bottom of the Eastern Conference with the second-worst record in the NBA last season at 22-60.

"I don't even know what to say. I can't believe what just happened," said Banchero.

"I wanted to be in the NBA but I didn't know I would be here."

Banchero, who is the fifth Duke player to be the number one overall pick, was a surprise selection by Orlando with many experts thinking Auburn forward Jabari Smith would be drafted first.

The Oklahoma City Thunder chose Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren with the second pick while Smith was selected third by the Houston Rockets, who had the NBA's worst record last season at 20-62.

Polish-American Jeremy Sochan, who grew up in Southampton and Milton Keynes, was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the ninth pick.

The 19-year-old was born in Guymon, Oklahoma, before his family moved to the UK when he was two-years-old.

Eligible to play for the USA and Team GB - in the end he chose to represent Poland, the country of his mother's birth.

In the 75-year history of the NBA only seven players developed in the UK have played in the league. Luol Deng, John Amaechi and Robert Archibald among the most notable names.

In fact, the last British player to enter an NBA draft was Ryan Richards in 2010 - and although he was drafted by the Spurs - he never played a game for the team.

2022 NBA draft
1. Orlando Magic pick Paulo Banchero (Duke)

2. Oklahoma Thunder pick Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga)

3. Houston Rockets pick Jabari Smith (Auburn)

4. Sacramento Kings pick Keegan Murray (Iowa)

5. Detroit Pistons pick Jaden Ivey (Purdue)

6. Indiana Pacers pick Bennedict Mathurin (Arizona)

7. Portland Trail Blazers pick Shaedon Sharpe (Kentucky)

8. New Orleans Pelicans pick Dyson Daniels (G League Ignite)

9. San Antonio Spurs pick Jeremy Sochan (Baylor)

10. Washington Wizards pick Johnny Davis (Wisconsin)

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/61921095
 
Harden declines player option, intends to return to 76ers on smaller contract

James Harden's sole focus is winning a title with the Sixers next season. Harden returned to his workout and on-court regimen much sooner than usual this offseason, pouring his full focus on 2022-23 and a championship run, per Shams Charania.

This move keeps real the possibility of negotiating a new deal that would deliver the Sixers roster-building flexibility in free agency – including use of the full $10.5M exception.

https://www.skysports.com/nba/live-...stbrook-wall-free-agency-and-contract-updates
 
Kevin Durant requests trade away from Brooklyn Nets

Kevin Durant has requested to be traded away from the Brooklyn Nets.

Nets GM Sean Marks is now working with Durant and his business manager Rich Kleiman on finding a trade for the franchise star.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic's Shams Charania both reported the news and it's understood that Durant made the request directly to Nets owner Joe Tsai earlier on Thursday.

Wojnarowski reported that Durant and his good friend and team-mate Kyrie Irving had no contact with the franchise after Irving opted into his deal on Monday, and "a sense of inevitability existed that Durant would eventually ask for a trade."

The news of Durant's request comes hours before the beginning of NBA free agency at 11pm on Thursday night, and just a few days after his fellow star in Brooklyn, Irving, opted into his contract for the 2022-23 season.

Irving had until Wednesday to inform the Nets of his opt-in decision. It closes one element of the ongoing saga regarding Irving's future, which has been one of the biggest storylines as the league prepares for the start of free agency.

Durant and Irving are very close and came to the Nets together in July 2019. Durant signed his own extension last summer, but had Irving not remained with the franchise next season, it certainly could have led to Durant pondering his own future in Brooklyn.

Now, Brooklyn faces another headache by trying to offload Irving as well, with the point guard also presumably wanting now to leave. He may have opted in, but there was no way Irving was going to take a $31m pay cut - from the $37m in his player option to about $6m available in some team's mid-level player exception.

However, it could still get more complicated. Irving could still have his contract extended before free agency begins. Also, the Nets could still trade him – and in fact, teams might be more interested in a deal now that Irving is on an expiring contract.

So, although Thursday's issue centres on Durant, the Nets' issue is now very much two-fold.

https://www.skysports.com/nba/news/...durant-requests-trade-away-from-brooklyn-nets
 
Bill Russell: Late Boston Celtics legend's number six jersey retired by all NBA teams

The NBA will honour late 11-time champion Bill Russell by retiring his jersey number six across the league.

Boston Celtics legend Russell died at the age of 88 last month.

Current players who wear six, including LeBron James, will be able to continue to use the number but it will not be issued to new players.

Centre Russell won a record 11 NBA titles and five NBA Most Valuable Player awards during a 13-year career with the Celtics.

He also captained the USA to Olympic gold in 1956 and made a significant impact as the league's first black head coach and an equal rights pioneer.

"Bill Russell's unparalleled success on the court and pioneering civil rights activism deserve to be honoured in a unique and historic way," said NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

"Permanently retiring his number six across every NBA team ensures that Bill's transcendent career will always be recognised."

Russell is the first player to have his jersey number retired throughout the NBA. The Celtics had already retired his number.

The NBA will also pay tribute to Russell throughout the 2022-23 season by players wearing a commemorative patch on the right shoulder of their jerseys.

Each NBA court will also have a clover-shaped logo that includes the number six displayed on the sideline near the scorer's table.

Russell was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1975, then again as a coach in 2021.

He becomes the third man to have their number retired league-wide in the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada.

Major League Baseball retired Brooklyn Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson's number 42 jersey throughout the league in 1997. That was to mark 50 years since Robinson broke the colour barrier that excluded black players from MLB teams.

Ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky's number 99 jersey was retired by all NHL teams in 2000.

BBC
 
The NFL has suspended Deshaun Watson for 11 games without pay and fined him $5m after an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against the Cleveland Browns quarterback.

Watson was suspended for six games earlier this month over 24 sexual misconduct claims.

But the league appealed against the ban, hoping for a stiffer sentence for the 26-year-old.

The NFL said Watson must also commit to "mandatory evaluation and treatment".

In a statement posted on the Browns' Twitter account, Watson said he was "grateful" the disciplinary process was over.

"I apologise once again for any pain this situation has caused," he said. "I take accountability for the decisions I made."

Watson will be eligible to return in week 13, on 4 December, against his former side the Houston Texans, where the allegations were made and where he departed on a five-year deal worth an NFL-record $230m (£174.4m) in March.
 
The Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver has been suspended for a year and fined $10m after an NBA investigation into claims of racism and misogyny.

The NBA found Sarver "engaged in conduct that clearly violated common workplace standards".

It found evidence of "racially insensitive language, unequal treatment of female employees and sex-related statements and conduct".

Sarver's treatment of employees also "on occasion constituted bullying."

The investigation, which interviewed 320 people and scrutinised 80,000 documents and videos, was prompted by an ESPN article in November 2021.

However, while the NBA fined Sarver the maximum amount possible under its rules, the report stated it "makes no finding that Sarver's conduct was motivated by racial or gender-based animus."

Sarver's punishment is less severe than that imposed on Donald Sterling, the then owner of the Los Angeles Clippers who was banned for life from the NBA in 2014 after he was recorded using racist language in a private conversation. The league later forced the sale of the team to new owners.

In a statement reacting to his fine and suspension, Sarver, who also owns the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, said: "Good leadership requires accountability.

"For the Suns and Mercury organizations, that begins with me.

"While I disagree with some of the particulars of the NBA's report, I would like to apologize for my words and actions that offended our employees. I take full responsibility for what I have done. I am sorry for causing this pain, and these errors in judgment are not consistent with my personal philosophy or my values."

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver described his organisation's report as "troubling and disappointing".

"On behalf of the entire NBA, I apologize to all of those impacted by the misconduct outlined in the investigators' report. We must do better." he said.

Sarver has been an owner of the Suns for 18 years. He will not be able to attend any NBA or WNBA team facility or arena during his suspension or take part in any business activity with the teams.

BBC
 
NBA stars LeBron James and Chris Paul say Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver should have been given a stronger punishment for his racist and sexist behaviour.

Sarver, who also owned the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, was fined $10m and suspended from the sport for a year after the NBA investigated allegations.

"There is no place for misogyny, sexism, and racism in any workplace. We hold our league up as an example of our values and this ain't it," wrote James on Twitter.
 
Michael Jordan's 'Last Dance' jersey fetches record $10.1m

A jersey worn by basketball icon Michael Jordan during the opening game of the 1998 NBA Finals has been sold for a record $10.1m (£8.8m).

It is the most a piece of sporting memorabilia worn during play has fetched in history.

Auction house Sotheby's says it drew "palpable excitement" from collectors.

It was reminiscent of a sporting season - chronicled in Netflix documentary The Last Dance - which saw Jordan winning his sixth and final NBA title.

On Thursday, Sotheby's said Jordan's Chicago Bulls jersey attracted a total of 20 bids.

Sotheby's head of streetwear and modern collectables, Brahm Wachter, said bidders were "eager to own a rarefied piece of history".

"Today's record-breaking result... solidifies Michael Jordan as the undisputed G.O.A.T, proving his name and incomparable legacy is just as relevant as it was nearly 25 years ago," Wachter said. G.O.A.T is an acronym for "greatest of all time".

The jersey outstripped a previous record of $9.28m, paid for a shirt worn by football star Diego Maradona at the 1986 World Cup.

It was auctioned with a June 1998 Sports Illustrated magazine, which features Jordan on the cover.

Jordan is seen by many as the best player in the history of basketball. He spent most of his career with the Chicago Bulls, became a global icon and helped raise the NBA's profile around the world.

Although the Chicago Bulls lost the opening game of the NBA Finals against Utah Jazz, it won the next three games. Then Utah Jazz took the next game by two points.

In the sixth game, Jordan put the Bulls up 87-86 with just 5.2 seconds left on the clock, and secured his final NBA title.

The comeback was cheered by basketball fans around the world.

Jordan had abruptly retired from basketball in October 1993, following the murder of his father in North Carolina. The star had won seven scoring titles and led the Chicago Bulls to three straight championships.

"I have always stressed... that when I lose the sense of motivation and the sense to prove something as a basketball player, it's time to leave," Jordan said.

Jordan, who is now aged 59, hung up his boots for the final time in 2003.

BBC
 
Choosing not to get a Covid-19 vaccination was a $100m decision, says Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving.

Last season, Irving, 30, could not play in the Nets' home games until March because of New York's ban on unvaccinated people in indoor venues.

His availability for away games was also dependent on different states' vaccine requirements.

The seven-time All Star says his decision not to get vaccinated cost him a four-year contract extension.

"I gave up four years, 100-and-something million deciding to be unvaccinated and that was the decision," he said.

"[Get this] contract, get vaccinated or be unvaccinated and there's a level of uncertainty of your future, whether you're going to be in this league, whether you're going to be on this team, so I had to deal with that real-life circumstance of losing my job for this decision."

The new NBA season starts on 18 October and Irving will play for the Nets on a $36.5m (£33.7m) player option deal, but could become a free agent next summer.

He had expected to sign a new contract in 2021.

"We were supposed to have all that figured out before training camp last year," Irving said. "And it just didn't happen because of the status of me being unvaccinated.

"So, I understood their point and I had to live with it. It was a tough pill to swallow, honestly.

"I felt like I was forced with an ultimatum of whether or not I had a contract, whether or not I can be on the team [based on] whether or not I was vaccinated. I was definitely put in that position where I had to make that decision."

However, Irving's view was disputed by general manager Sean Marks, instead saying contract talks "stalled" when the pandemic started.

"There's no ultimatum being given here," Marks said. "Again, it goes back to you want people who are reliable, people who are here and accountable. All of us: staff, players, coaches, you name it.

"It's not giving somebody an ultimatum to get a vaccine. That's a completely personal choice.

"Two summers ago, when we were talking about contract negotiations, that was pre-citywide mandates that went in. Once the vaccine mandates came in, you knew how that'd affect playing home games. That's when contract talks stalled.

"It didn't get to 'here's the deal, now take it back'. That never happened."

Meanwhile, Irving's Nets team-mate Kevin Durant says he is "committed" to the team, despite making a trade request in the summer because of doubts he held about their direction and the leadership of coach Steve Nash.

He later rescinded the request after meetings with Nets owner Joe Tsai, Nash and Marks.

"I'm getting older. I want to be in a place that's stable and try to build a championship culture," he said.

"We came to a mutual agreement that we should keep moving forward."

He added: "I still love to play. I knew that wasn't going to be affected.

"I'm committed to going forward with this team, so if they [fans] got doubts, I can't control that."

BBC
 
Draymond Green punch: Golden State Warriors fine forward for Jordan Poole incident

Draymond Green has been fined but not suspended by the Golden State Warriors for punching his team-mate Jordan Poole in a training session.

Video footage emerged of the incident and the 32-year-old apologised to Poole and the rest of the team the next day.

"This is the biggest crisis we've had since I've been coach here," said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.

Green initially suggested he would step away from the team but Kerr said he would return to training on Thursday.

"It's really serious stuff. We're not perfect, but we're going to lean on the experience that we have together over the last nine years and trust that this is the best decision for our team [not to suspend Green]," added Kerr.

The forward, who punched Poole after the two exchanged words in a practice session, took a few days away from the team but will be available for the Warriors' final pre-season game on Friday before their season opener against the LA Lakers on 18 October.

"There's a huge embarrassment that comes with it. Not only for myself, that's something I'll have to deal with, but the embarrassment that Jordan has to deal with and that this team has to deal with, this organisation has to deal with," said the experienced Green.

"Also Jordan's family - his family saw that video. His mother, his father saw that video."

Kerr, who has been in charge of the team since 2014, said everyone has "a lot of work to do" to make it a successful season.

He added that the situation has been discussed with Green, Poole and senior members of the team - including superstar shooter Stephen Curry - before determining his punishment.

"I can tell you there have been a lot of conversations," Kerr said. "It's been an exhaustive process."

The Golden State Warriors won their fourth NBA title in eight years last season, beating the Boston Celtics in the Finals.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/63225672
 
The LA Lakers lost at the Denver Nuggets to slip to a fourth defeat in four games at the start of the NBA season.

Nikoka Jokic scored 31 points for the Nuggets in a 110-99 win over the 17-time champions at the Ball Arena.

LeBron James finished with 19 points and Anthony Davis 22 but the Lakers remain bottom of the Western Conference.

They are one of only three teams still without a win.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 43 points to help the Milwaukee Bucks maintain their 100% start to the season with a thrilling 110-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who had head coach Steve Nash sent off in the third quarter.

The Nets led by 12 points at half-time in Milwaukee, but Antetokounmpo scored 17 points in the third quarter before the Bucks pulled away in the fourth for a third straight win.

Nash was hauled away from officials by his own players after reacting angrily when they failed to give a foul against Antetokounmpo on Patty Mills.
 
NBA commissioner Adam Silver says he will meet with Kyrie Irving next week about his social media activity.

The Brooklyn Nets guard, 30, was criticised after sharing a link about a film featuring anti-Semitic material.

In response, Irving and the Nets released a joint statement on Wednesday that pledged to donate $1m (£894,000) to combat "hate and intolerance".
 
Kyrie is truly one of the dumbest athletes of all time, it's genuinely mind boggling. Unfortunate since if he had more than two brain cells, I'd imagine he'd be focused on basketball and winning rings right now. Durant really dug his own grave relying on Kyrie to make his new dynasty, when he should've picked literally any other star player.
 
Nike has suspended its sponsorship deal with Brooklyn Nets player Kyrie Irving after he promoted on Twitter a documentary which contained anti-Semitic material.

Irving is serving at least a five-game ban from the Nets after he initially defended having shared a link to the film.

Irving, 30, later apologised, claiming he is "learning" from what happened.

Nike said it was "deeply saddened and disappointed by the situation".

Irving's deal with Nike, which started in 2014, is reported to be $11m (£9.6m) a year according to Forbes.

Nike, who has also cancelled their next branded shoe release with Irving, said in a statement: "At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech and we condemn any form of anti-Semitism.

"To that end, we've made the decision to suspend our relationship with Kyrie Irving effective immediately and will no longer launch the Kyrie 8."

BBC
 
Stephen Curry scored a season-high 47 points, knocking down seven three-pointers, and Golden State beat Sacramento to snap a five-game losing streak.
 
The Wolves have been quite depressing to watch, I'll be honest. There's nothing cohesive about their unit as a team, the Gobert fit is looking about as awkward as you could imagine it to be. I'll give it a while before I say it's a bad trade because these things take time to gel.
 
WC-Passion said:
The Wolves have been quite depressing to watch, I'll be honest. There's nothing cohesive about their unit as a team, the Gobert fit is looking about as awkward as you could imagine it to be. I'll give it a while before I say it's a bad trade because these things take time to gel.
Click to expand...


"[ProCityHoops] Minnesota Timberwolves with Rudy Gobert on and off the court this season. ON: 101.1 OFF RTG (30th in NBA) 104.0 DEF RTG (2nd in NBA) OFF: 116.2 OFF RTG (3rd in NBA) 113.3 DEF RTG (23rd in NBA)"

It's been the case with Gobert centered teams in the past, just like the Jazz. But wolves do need more time to gel to see if it works out or not.
 
Stronguess said:
"[ProCityHoops] Minnesota Timberwolves with Rudy Gobert on and off the court this season. ON: 101.1 OFF RTG (30th in NBA) 104.0 DEF RTG (2nd in NBA) OFF: 116.2 OFF RTG (3rd in NBA) 113.3 DEF RTG (23rd in NBA)"

It's been the case with Gobert centered teams in the past, just like the Jazz. But wolves do need more time to gel to see if it works out or not.
Click to expand...

Yeah I believe it will take time and the fans can't expect instant results. Definitely a make-or-break season for the Wolves.
 
Stephen Curry scored 24 points as the Golden State Warriors continued their fine form at home with a 111-101 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday.

Curry completed a double-double and a game-high 10 assists, while Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins scored 20.

Draymond Green also contributed 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

The Warriors have a 7-1 home record but are winless in eight on the road.

Elsewhere on Friday, the Boston Celtics extended their winning run to nine with a 117-109 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum both scoring double-doubles.

In Dallas Mavericks' 127-99 win against the Denver Nuggets, guard Luka Doncic recorded his 50th career triple-double in his 279th game.

Doncic becomes just the 10th NBA player to reach 50 triple-doubles and he is the second youngest (23 years 263 days) and second fastest (278 games) to reach the milestone behind Oscar Robertson (23 years 42 days; 111 games).

The Los Angeles Lakers secured just their fourth win of the season as Anthony Davis scored 38 points in a 128-121 home victory over the Detroit Pistons.
 
Kyrie Irving can return to the Brooklyn Nets following an NBA suspension for posting a social media link to a film with anti-Semitic material.
 
Kyrie Irving helped the Brooklyn Nets to a 127-115 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in his first game after a team-imposed suspension.
 
LeBron James returns as LA Lakers beat San Antonio Spurs

LeBron James helped the Los Angeles Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-94 on his return from a five-game injury lay-off.

James, sidelined by an adductor strain since 9 November, scored 21 points as the Lakers won their first away game of the season.

"I felt pretty good," said James, who played 33 minutes at the AT&T Center.

"I've been non-stop around the clock [getting treatment] for the last couple of weeks to get back on the floor."

He added: "My rhythm, my timing was a little off on a few of my passes. But I'll be a lot better as the games go on."

James, 37, also made eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.

"He was moving great," said Lakers coach Darvin Ham. "Obviously there's going to be some rust there, but I thought he looked great."

Anthony Davis scored 25 points for the Lakers as the Spurs suffered a seventh consecutive defeat.

The Boston Celtics beat the Sacramento Kings 122-104, the Golden State Warriors overcame the Utah Jazz 129-118, and the Milwaukee Bucks triumphed 117-102 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

BBC
 
Nike has ended its sponsorship deal with Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving one month after he promoted a documentary which contained anti-Semitic material on social media.
 
Keldon Johnson blocked a potential game-winning shot in the final seconds to help the San Antonio Spurs beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-111.

Josh Richardson scored 24 points off the bench and Johnson added 21.

With 6.7 seconds left, Johnson timed his leap perfectly to block a lay-up from Donovan Mitchell, who scored 28 points.

Darius Garland then missed a last-gasp three-pointer for the Cavaliers at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.

The Spurs are second bottom of the NBA Western Conference, while the Cavaliers are third in the Eastern.

Kevin Durant scored 30 points as the Brooklyn Nets beat the Washington Wizards 112-100 for their eighth win in nine matches.

Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler led the Miami Heat to an 87-82 victory over the Indiana Pacers, while Luka Doncic narrowly missed out on a triple-double as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-114.

The Memphis Grizzlies claimed a sixth straight win by beating the depleted Atlanta Hawks 128-103.
 
The award presented to the NBA's most valuable player is to be renamed the Michael Jordan Trophy.
 
NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo leads Bucks to win over Warriors

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Golden State Warriors 128-111 in a testy match between the NBA's last two champions.

The Warriors beat the league-leading Boston Celtics on Tuesday but this was their 12th loss in 14 away games.

Coach Steve Kerr earned a technical foul for his furious reaction after Stephen Curry appeared to be caught on the head as he made a three-point shot.

"I felt like we were on the bad end of things to start the game," he said.

"That needs to be called."

The Warriors were 14 points down early in the second quarter but briefly threatened to reel in the Bucks - who they succeeded as NBA champions in June - as they closed to within six.

But the hosts proved too strong and Kerr pulled his starters out of the game in the final stages in order to prepare for their trip to the Indianapolis Pacers on Wednesday.

Elsewhere the Celtics got back on track with a 122-118 overtime win at long-time rivals the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jayson Tatum scored 44 points for the visitors, who improved their NBA-leading record to 22 wins and seven defeats this season.

Anthony Davis scored 37 points with 12 rebounds and LeBron James added 33 points with nine rebounds and nine assists but the Lakers lost for the fourth time in their last five games.

The Lakers, who are 12th in the Western Conference, were subjected to stinging criticism from NBA great Charles Barkley.

"The Lakers stink," he told TNT. "We have to talk about the Lakers, but the Lakers are awful.

"We don't talk about no other 12th seeds. In the East, we don't talk about the Washington Wizards do we?"

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/63968476
 
Stephen Curry suffered a shoulder injury as NBA champions the Golden State Warriors' indifferent season continued with a 125-119 defeat away to the Indiana Pacers.
 
Kyrie Irving hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Brooklyn Nets a 119-116 win at the Toronto Raptors in Friday's NBA action.

That was the Nets' fifth straight win - a ninth out of 10 - while LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to victory.

Elsewhere, the Golden State Warriors lost again without Stephen Curry.

"Who would have thought I would come into Toronto and hit my first game-winning buzzer-beater of my career?" said Irving, who scored 32 points.

"Pray that there's more in the future, but I'm glad that we got this win."

Nets coach Jacque Vaughn had originally drawn up the game-winning play for forward Kevin Durant, but they switched it to Irving as the team was coming out of its final timeout.

"It just comes with the trust that we're building here," said Irving.

"Jacque had a play call that we were about to go execute, and me and K had some dialogue and we decided to run the play for me. It was a good match-up versus Fred [VanVleet]. We just got the better of him that one time.

"I just want to be great in those situations," Irving added. "You can say anything you want about me not hitting shots in the past, but the one time when you step up and make it, those are the ones you want to remember."

Durant, who added 28 points for the Nets, said of Irving: "He was already cooking, so I didn't want to get in his way.

"We kept finding him late in the game. He made some big shots, and I was just like, 'Jacque, I think Ky should take this one.'"

Elsewhere, James scored 30 points as the Los Angeles Lakers overcame a first-half injury to Anthony Davis to earn a 126-108 win over the Denver Nuggets.

Thomas Bryant scored 21 points for the Lakers and Russell Westbrook had a triple-double of 15 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists as the hosts ended Denver's three-game winning streak.

Joel Embiid and James Harden both impressed as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the depleted Golden State Warriors 118-106.

Embiid had 34 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Harden added 27 points and nine assists as the Sixers claimed their fourth straight win.

Curry had his first game out with a shoulder injury, while Andrew Wiggins (thigh), Draymond Green (quad) and Andre Iguodala (hip) were also sidelined for defending champions Golden State, who are now 2-14 on the road and 14-16 overall.

BBC
 
Nikola Jokic set a career high of 27 rebounds in his fifth triple-double of the season as the Denver Nuggets beat the Charlotte Hornets 119-115.
 
Billionaire Mat Ishbia is closing in on a deal for the Phoenix Suns and Mercury in an agreement that will value the franchises at $4bn (£3.3bn).

Mortgage executive Ishbia has made a deal in principle with Robert Sarver, who is selling after being suspended for racist and sexist behaviour.

"Both teams have an incredibly dynamic fanbase. I have loved experiencing the energy of the Valley," said Ishbia.

The deal would be a record for the purchase of an NBA team.

Ishbia's investment in a controlling stake in the Suns and WNBA side the Mercury values the franchise at $4bn, more than the $3.3bn price tag that Joe Tsai's deal put on the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center in 2019.

Ishbia played college basketball at Michigan State and was a fringe player in the team's NCAA Championship win under the long-serving coach Tom Izzo in 2000.

"Basketball is at the core of my life, from my high school days as a player to the honour of playing for Coach Izzo and winning a national title at Michigan State University," he added.

Ishbia's arrival in the sport was welcomed by NBA great Magic Johnson, who also played for Michigan State, although in a different era.

"All of the other 29 NBA teams better watch out because Mat's a winner!" Johnson wrote.
 
NBA: Luka Doncic inspires Dallas Mavericks to Christmas Day win over Los Angeles Lakers


Luka Doncic scored 32 points as the Dallas Mavericks recovered from a half-time deficit to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 124-115 on Christmas Day.

The Mavericks trailed 54-43 at half-time but scored 51 points in the third quarter to take control of the match.

LeBron James scored 38 points for the Lakers, who have lost four games in a row without the injured Anthony Davis.

Before the game, a statue of Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki was unveiled outside the American Airlines Center.

Nowitzki, a 14-time NBA All-Star, spent his entire career at the Mavericks between 1998 and 2019, leading them to their sole NBA title in 2011.

Elsewhere, two-time reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic scored 41 points as Denver Nuggets beat Phoenix Suns 128-125 in overtime.

Denver point guard Jamal Murray tied the game with 10.7 seconds remaining of regulation time, but Aaron Gordon's spectacular dunk shot with 24 seconds left of overtime set up a fourth straight victory for the Nuggets.

"It's nice. It's just one game," said Jokic. "Everybody can have one good game.

"We keep fighting. We have a lot of guys who can play. I'm just happy that we are winning. We're playing really good."

Jayson Tatum has now scored 30 or more points for five successive games as his 42 points helped the Boston Celtics to a 139-118 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a team-high 27 points in reply for the Bucks, who have now lost three straight games.

The Golden State Warriors, still without injured top scorer Stephen Curry, beat the Memphis Grizzlies 123-109 for only their third win in 10 matches.

Jordan Poole top-scored with 32 points for the Warriors before being ejected with 9:20 remaining for his second technical foul.

Ja Morant scored 36 points in reply for the Grizzlies, who slip to third in the Western Conference.

Joel Embiid scored 35 points and James Harden added 29 as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the New York Knicks 119-112.

The 76ers have now won eight matches in a row without without injured guard Tyrese Maxey.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/64093917
 
Luka Doncic scores historic 60-point triple-double in Dallas Mavericks win

Luka Doncic scored the first 60-point 'triple-double' in NBA history to help the Dallas Mavericks claim a 126-121 overtime win over the New York Knicks.

The 23-year-old Slovenian racked up 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists, posting double figures in three key attacking metrics.

With the Mavericks down 115-113 in the final seconds, he deliberately missed a free throw, claimed a rebound, and scored a jumper to force overtime.

"I'm tired, I need a beer," he said.

Doncic is only the seventh player to record a 50-point tripe-double in the NBA, and he becomes the youngest to achieve the feat, taking the record from all-time great Wilt Chamberlain.

His performance powered a superb comeback win for the hosts who trailed by 110-101 with fewer than 45 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Doncic's decision to intentionally throw his free-throw attempt against the backboard, claim the ball in the ensuing melee and have the composure and accuracy to drain his shot, was the highlight of his team's renaissance.

"I just threw it up, I was kind of lucky," he admitted. "We were down, we came back, this is an amazing feeling."

Doncic's stellar game attracted praise from across the league and from giants of the game's past.

"We are watching greatness. I've never seen anything like that ever," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tweeted.


DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards' Kyle Kuzma were among the present-day stars to express admiration, while two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant compared Doncic's numbers to something out of a "video game" rather than reality.

It is a fourth-straight win for the Dallas Mavericks, who lie sixth in the Western Conference

Elsewhere, LeBron James impressed with 28 points as the Los Angeles Lakers ended a four-game losing streak by beating the Orlando Magic 129-110.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/64107654
 
Eleven players were suspended by the NBA following a mass scuffle during the Detroit Pistons' 121-101 victory over the Orlando Magic.
 
Firebat said:
Eleven players were suspended by the NBA following a mass scuffle during the Detroit Pistons' 121-101 victory over the Orlando Magic.
Click to expand...

<b>Eleven players were suspended by the NBA following a mass scuffle during the Detroit Pistons' 121-101 victory over the Orlando Magic.</b>

Magic centre Moritz Wagner received a two-game ban for pushing Pistons guard Killian Hayes off court on Thursday.

Hayes was banned for three matches for retaliating by hitting Wagner on the back of the head.

Pistons guard Hamidou Diallo was given a one-game ban along with eight Magic players.

Guards Cole Anthony, RJ Hampton, Gary Harris and Kevon Harris, forwards Admiral Schofield and Franz Wagner and centers Mo Bamba and Wendell Carter Jr have each been suspended for one match.

The Pistons were leading by nine points when Wagner shoved Hayes at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Diallo raced in and pushed Wagner from behind and Hayes hit Wagner, sending him sprawling into the Pistons bench.

The one-game bans issued to the eight Magic players for leaving the bench area will be staggered to ensure the Magic have eight players available for their next two games.

Elsewhere, Luka Doncic recorded his eighth triple-double of the season, with 35 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Houston Rockets 129-114 for a fifth successive win.

On Wednesday the 23-year-old Slovenian became only the second player to score a 60-point triple-double, against the New York Knicks.

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each scored 29 points to help Eastern Conference leaders the Boston Celtics beat the LA Clippers 116-110.

Ja Morant scored 13 of his 19 points in the third quarter and added a career-best 17 assists as the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Toronto Raptors 119-106.

The San Antonio Spurs inflicted a fifth consecutive defeat on the Knicks as Keldon Johnson scored 30 points and Romeo Langford a career-high 23 in a 122-115 triumph.


———

Crazy!
 
NBA: LeBron James scores 47 points in Los Angeles Lakers win over Atlanta Hawks

LeBron James scored a season-high 47 points on his 38th birthday as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Atlanta Hawks 130-121.

He also made 10 rebounds and nine assists at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

The Hawks led by 15 points at half-time, but James scored 13 in the third quarter and 16 in the fourth for a Lakers side missing Anthony Davis.

James said he promised his team-mates 40 points before the game.

"I called it," he said after completing his third game in four nights.

"I told them before the game. I had to make it happen. I didn't even know it was three in four nights. I just knew I had to get my mind and body ready to go.

"It's a treat to have my family here and support me on the road, on my birthday. It's very important to me because they are the rock of everything I do - my mom and my wife and my family."

James scored 48 points against the Hawks on his 25th birthday in 2009.

The Lakers remain third from bottom of the NBA Western Conference, while the Hawks are ninth in the Eastern.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/64134392
 
Firebat said:
NBA: LeBron James scores 47 points in Los Angeles Lakers win over Atlanta Hawks

LeBron James scored a season-high 47 points on his 38th birthday as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Atlanta Hawks 130-121.

He also made 10 rebounds and nine assists at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

The Hawks led by 15 points at half-time, but James scored 13 in the third quarter and 16 in the fourth for a Lakers side missing Anthony Davis.

James said he promised his team-mates 40 points before the game.

"I called it," he said after completing his third game in four nights.

"I told them before the game. I had to make it happen. I didn't even know it was three in four nights. I just knew I had to get my mind and body ready to go.

"It's a treat to have my family here and support me on the road, on my birthday. It's very important to me because they are the rock of everything I do - my mom and my wife and my family."

James scored 48 points against the Hawks on his 25th birthday in 2009.

The Lakers remain third from bottom of the NBA Western Conference, while the Hawks are ninth in the Eastern.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/64134392
Click to expand...

Absolute GOAT. Haven’t seen anyone at this age play at this level and he won’t be done for a few more years. It’s too bad AD went down but if the lakers can continue to eek out wins I can see Pelinka trying to make a move at the deadline. They need another shooter and some bench strength to make a deep run.
 
The Golden State Warriors thrashed the San Antonio Spurs with a 144-113 win in front of a NBA record crowd of 68,323 at the Alamodome on Friday.

It eclipses the previous league regular-season record of 62,046 that watched Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls beat the Atlanta Hawks in 1998.

Jordan Poole scored 25 points off the bench as the Warriors ended a three game losing streak.

It is the Spurs' fourth straight defeat and a seventh loss in eight games.

BBC
 
LeBron James scored a season-high 48 points to help Los Angeles Lakers past Houston Rockets and further close in on the all-time NBA points record.

James has now passed 35 points in five of his past seven games, and was his team's top scorer in the 140-132 win.

He has 38,072 career points, 315 behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time record.

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum scored 51 points, including a pair of three-pointers in the final 64 seconds, as they won 130-118 at Charlotte Hornets.

Tatum now holds the franchise record for regular-season games with 50 or more points, with five.

Boston have won seven matches in a row and extended their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Elsewhere, Stephen Curry finished with a game-high 41 points as Golden State Warriors beat Washington Wizards 127-118.

Memphis Grizzlies extended their winning run to 10 games with a dominant 136-106 win at Phoenix Suns, and are second in the Western Conference behind Denver Nuggets.

Monday's full NBA results
Orlando Magic 116-119 Denver Nuggets

Philadelphia 76ers 113-112 LA Lakers

Boston Celtics 130-118 Charlotte Hornets

Indian Pacers 119-132 Milwaukee Bucks

Toronto Raptors 123-121 New York Knicks

Miami Heat 113-121 Atlanta Hawks

Sacramento Kings 132-119 San Antonio Spurs

Dallas Mavericks 123-140 Portland Trail Blazers

Golden State Warriors 127-118 Washington Wizards

New Orleans Pelicans 103-113 Cleveland Cavaliers

Utah Jazz 126-125 Minnesota Timberwolves

Phoenix Suns 106-136 Memphis Grizzlies

Houston Rockets 132-140 LA Lakers

BBC
 
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