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NBA: Chicago Bulls beat rivals Detroit Pistons 126-108 in Paris

An all-star crowd at the Accor Arena in Paris saw the Chicago Bulls beat the Detroit Pistons 126-108 on Thursday.

The French capital hosted the first NBA game in Europe since 2020 as the Bulls dominated throughout, with Zach LaVine top scoring with 30 points.

Musician Pharrell Williams, footballer Gerard Pique and Formula 1 drivers Pierre Gasly and Charles Leclerc were among the crowd.

DeMar DeRozan added 26 points while the Pistons' Bojan Bogdanovic scored 25.

DeRozan had missed the previous three games with a quad strain.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old French prodigy Victor Wembanyama, who is expected to be the first pick in this year's NBA draft, was one of the star attractions watching from the stands.

The 7ft 3in Wembanyama plays in France for Metropolitans 92 but has been linked with a move to the Pistons.

Their current Frenchman, Killian Hayes, was greeted by a warm reception when the starters were introduced, but it was Chicago who started brightly and took control of the game.

Derrick Jones Jr was one of seven Bulls players to reach double figures as he impressed with some stunning dunks.

Chicago are 10th in the Eastern Conference, while the Pistons are bottom.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/64341200
 
Just a matter of 10 games max for Lebron to take over Kareem Abdul Jabaar as the all time scorer. It will be a hell of an achievement and the highlight of the season.
 
A late burst from Dennis Schroder helped the Los Angeles Lakers end the Memphis Grizzlies' 11-game winning run. with a 122-121 victory.

Schroder, who finished with 19 points had a steal, a lay-up and hit three free throws in the final 13 seconds as the Lakers won 122-121.

Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke missed a free throw with 1.2 seconds to go that would have tied the game.

"I just made a play," said 29-year-old German point guard Schroder.

"I just went to go get it, stabbed at it, the ball went loose and I just attacked the basket."

The Lakers, who had lost four of their previous five games, were 13 points down late in the third quarter.

Russell Westbrook scored 29 points while LeBron James added 23 for the winners.

BBC
 
MenInG said:
A late burst from Dennis Schroder helped the Los Angeles Lakers end the Memphis Grizzlies' 11-game winning run. with a 122-121 victory.

Schroder, who finished with 19 points had a steal, a lay-up and hit three free throws in the final 13 seconds as the Lakers won 122-121.

Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke missed a free throw with 1.2 seconds to go that would have tied the game.

"I just made a play," said 29-year-old German point guard Schroder.

"I just went to go get it, stabbed at it, the ball went loose and I just attacked the basket."

The Lakers, who had lost four of their previous five games, were 13 points down late in the third quarter.

Russell Westbrook scored 29 points while LeBron James added 23 for the winners.

BBC
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The Lakers are having an odd season. They are the 3rd worst team in the west but they are better than they were during their last 2 seasons.

Great to see them stopping Grizzlies’ winning streak. Westbrook has a great game, it’s amaIng how he’s turned it around too.

Anthony Davis return will make them stronger. Can’t count them out yet.
 
LeBron James edged closer to the NBA's all-time scoring record but could not prevent the Los Angeles Lakers losing 133-115 to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 38-year-old scored 46 points to move to within 178 of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of 38,387.

James also became the first player to have had a 40-point game against every NBA franchise.

"He's playing at an unbelievable level right now. It's amazing to be able to watch," said Lakers coach Darvin Ham.

James' tally included a career-best nine three-pointers as well as eight rebounds and seven assists.

On current form, James is on track to break Abdul-Jabbar's record within two weeks.
 
Damian Lillard scored a season-high 60 points as he helped the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Utah Jazz 134-124.

He also made nine of 15 three-point attempts to take his career total to 2,292, which moved him up to sixth on the all-time three-pointers list.

Lillard's performance against the Jazz included eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals.

The Golden State Warriors had Stephen Curry ejected late on but they beat the Memphis Grizzlies 122-120.
 
LeBron James' LA Lakers accuse NBA of cheating after 'gut-wrenching' referee error

Match referees admitted making a "gut-wrenching" error after being accused of cheating by the Los Angeles Lakers in their defeat by the Boston Celtics.

Lakers star LeBron James was challenged by Jayson Tatum as he missed what could have been a game-winning shot.

But referees did not call a foul and the game went to overtime, with the Celtics eventually winning 125-121.

"There was contact, we missed the play," admitted the game's officiating crew chief Eric Lewis.

The National Basketball Referees Association wrote on Twitter: "Like everyone else, referees make mistakes.

"We made one at the end of last night's game and that is gut-wrenching for us.

"This play will weigh heavily and cause sleepless nights as we strive to be the best referees we can be."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/64450359
 
NBA: LeBron James scores first triple-double of season to move close to all-time scoring record

LeBron James moved closer to breaking the NBA's all-time scoring record as he produced his first triple-double of the season in the Los Angeles Lakers' 129-123 win over the New York Knicks.

The 38-year-old is just 89 points shy of breaking the record of 38,387 points held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

James made 28 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in the Lakers' overtime win.

He is now fourth on the NBA's assists list with 10,338, still way behind all-time leader John Stockton's 15,806.

Victory ended the Lakers' two-game losing streak, while the Knicks - led by Jalen Brunson on a game-high 37 points - have lost six of their last eight games.

While James got his first, Nikola Jokic made his NBA-leading 16th triple-double of the season as the Denver Nuggets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 122-113.

Jokic recorded 26 points, 18 rebounds and 15 assists while Jamal Murray added 32 points to consign the Pelicans to their ninth successive defeat.

The Milwaukee Bucks made it five wins in a row with a 124-115 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, with Bucks' star Giannis Antetokounmpo scoring 34 points, while there were wins too for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Miami Heat.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/64481152
 
Lebron inching towards the huge milestone. What a day it would be in basketball history
 
The Brooklyn Nets are set to trade Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a first-round and multiple second-round picks, according to reports.
 
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has been ruled out indefinitely with a knee injury.

Curry limped off court during the third quarter of the Warriors' 119-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks after clashing knees with an opponent.

He had an MRI on Sunday which confirmed he had suffered "partial tears" to ligaments in his left knee, as well as bruising to his lower leg.

Curry, 34, will miss Monday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In a statement, the Warriors said "additional clarity on a potential timeline will be established in the coming days".

He could also miss out on a ninth appearance in the NBA All-Star Game on 19 February, for which he had been voted in as a starter.

Four-time NBA champion Curry had already missed 11 games this season with a partially dislocated shoulder.
 
LeBron James has today surpassed Kareem Abdul Jabbar as the #1 all time scorer in NBA history.

He stands at the the top of table now above Kareem, Wilt, MJ, Kobe and all

One of the greatest athletes of the modern era. Might possibly be the greatest. He’s playing at an a lite level in year 20 in an extremely physically demanding sport.
 
LeBron James has become the NBA's all-time leading scorer, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 39-year-old record.

Los Angeles Lakers star James, 38, hit 38 points in a 133-130 defeat by the Oklahoma City Thunder to surpass Abdul-Jabbar's mark of 38,387.

Abdul-Jabbar initially broke the scoring record in April 1984, eight months before James was born.

"To be able to be in the presence of a legend and great as Kareem, it means so much to me," said James.

James, who needed 36 points to break the record, did so with a fadeaway jumper at the end of the third quarter and he finished the match with a career total of 38,390.

An emotional James rose both arms in celebration while 75-year-old Abdul-Jabbar, who was at the match at the Lakers home court, stood and applauded.

There was a brief break in play for a ceremony to mark the achievement, with James taking a microphone to make a speech on court.
 
A star was born tonight. Mac McClung, who has played two NBA games, unleashed 3 perfect score slams to win All Star Slam Dunk contest

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MAC MCCLUNG HITS THE 540. PERFECT SCORE. ARE YOU KIDDING ME.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ATTSlamDunk?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ATTSlamDunk</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StateFarmSaturday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StateFarmSaturday</a><br>&#55357;&#56570;: Live on TNT <a href="https://t.co/ohSyYpMAq6">pic.twitter.com/ohSyYpMAq6</a></p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1627149194237726720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
The Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Clippers 176-175 in a dramatic encounter which became the second-highest scoring match in NBA history.

Malik Monk top scored with 45 points for the Kings, while team-mate De'Aaron Fox contributed 42 points in the double overtime win.

The points tallies for both teams were franchise records for them in the NBA.

The NBA's highest scoring game was in 1983 when the Detroit Pistons beat the Denver Nuggets 186-184.
 
Nikola Jokic became the sixth player in NBA history to complete 100 career triple-doubles as the Denver Nuggets beat the Houston Rockets 133-112.

Jokic, the two-time reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

"I don't want to say it's coming naturally but you don't chase it. It's really nice," said the Serb.

The 28-year-old has 24 triple-doubles this season and 15 in his last 20 games.

Russell Westbrook of the LA Clippers holds the record with 198 triple-doubles with Oscar Robertson (181), Magic Johnson (138), Jason Kidd (107) and LeBron James (106) the others to have reached the milestone.
 
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been suspended for eight games without pay by the NBA after a video showed him holding a gun in a Colorado nightclub.
 
NBA: Denver Nuggets claim statement win over Milwaukee Bucks

The Denver Nuggets beat fellow NBA conference leaders the Milwaukee Bucks 129-106 in a statement victory before the play-offs.

Nikola Jokic, the two-time reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, scored 31 points and had 11 assists for Western Conference leaders Denver.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 2019 and 2020 MVP, also hit 31 points.

However, only seven of those came in the second half as the Nuggets came from behind to win.

The Nuggets are three and a half games clear of the Memphis Grizzlies in the west, with the Bucks two games up on the Boston Celtics in the east, making both favourites to secure top seed, with eight regular season games remaining.

Jokic and Antetokounmpo are both strong MVP candidates after fine seasons.

Serbia's Jokic got the better of his Greek rival here, with Antetokounmpo withdrawn for the final five minutes as the Nuggets cruised to victory, outscoring their rivals 66-40 across the final two periods.

"It's better to win games, but our goal is to do something in a play-offs," said Jokic, whose side are aiming to win the Nuggets' first NBA championship.

Elsewhere, the Sacramento Kings moved to within one victory of clinching their first play-off berth in 17 years by beating the Utah Jazz 121-113.

The Kings are third in the west, six games clear of the Phoenix Suns, who beat the Philadelphia 76ers 125-105.

Mikal Bridges scored 27 points as the Brooklyn Nets claimed a 129-100 win over the Miami Heat to replace their opponents in sixth place in the east.

Teams placed seventh to 10th in the Western and Eastern conferences will contest the play-in tournament, with two teams taking the final two spots in the plays-offs.

The New Orleans Pelicans beat the Los Angeles Clippers 131-110 and the Atlanta Hawks claimed a 143-130 win over the Indiana Pacers.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/65079782
 
LeBron James returned from injury after a 13-game absence but could not prevent the Los Angeles Lakers from falling to a 118-108 defeat by the Chicago Bulls.
 
The Philadelphia 76ers dented Dallas Mavericks' hopes of reaching the NBA play-offs with victory on Wednesday.

The Mavericks, conference finalists in 2022, took a 12-point lead in the first half but the 76ers came back to win 116-108, Joel Embiid scoring 25 points.
 
The New York Knicks beat the Washington Wizards 118-109 to become the latest team to book their place in the NBA play-offs.
 
The Milwaukee Bucks secured their place as top seed in the Eastern Conference for the NBA play-offs by beating the Chicago Bulls.

The Bucks were without forward Giannis Antetokounmpo because of a sore knee and lost Khris Middleton early on to another knee issue, but won 105-92.

It means they will have home advantage in four of the seven games throughout the play-offs, which begin next week.

The Boston Celtics clinched second spot by beating the Toronto Raptors.

They won 97-93 despite being without Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart and Al Horford, with Malcolm Brogdon coming off the bench to score a game-high 29 points.

In the Western Conference, the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Memphis Grizzlies 138-131 to seal a spot in the play-in tournament.

The top six places in each conference go straight into the play-offs with seventh to 10th trying to qualify through the play-in tournament.

Find out how to get into basketball with our special guide.

The Dallas Mavericks moved up to a tie for 10th with a 123-119 win over the Sacramento Kings.

Kyrie Irving scored 31 points, Luka Doncic 29 and Tim Hardaway Jr 24 as the Mavericks moved level with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Los Angeles Clippers moved closer to the play-offs by beating the Los Angeles Lakers 125-118 - their 11th consecutive win over their local rivals.

Both are already guaranteed a play-in place, but the fifth-placed Clippers fifth and seventh-placed Lakers could still clinch play-off spots with two games remaining.

In the Eastern Conference, the Brooklyn Nets are sixth after beating the Detroit Pistons 123-108. The Nets need one win from their final two games, or a defeat for the Miami Heat, to secure sixth spot.

Elsewhere, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes and Obi Toppin became the first trio of New York Knicks players to score 30 points in the same game in more than 44 years in their victory against the Indiana Pacers.

Quickley scored 39 points, Grimes 36 and Toppin 32 to replicate the feat by Earl Monroe, Ray Williams and Toby Knight in the Knicks' loss to Chicago in 1979.

The Knicks, currently fifth and already guaranteed a place in the play-offs, won 138-129.

BBC
 
The Miami Heat beat the Philadelphia 76ers to keep their bid to qualify directly for the NBA play-offs alive.

The Heat went 10 points up in the first quarter and stayed in front throughout, winning 129-101 with Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro each scoring 24 points.
 
NBA: Golden State Warriors set record and secure play-off spot on final day

The Golden State Warriors set a first-quarter NBA record as the defending champions won 157-101 at the Portland Trail Blazers to clinch a play-off spot on the final day of the regular season.

The Warriors needed a win for a top-six finish in the Western Conference.

And they scored a record 55 points in the first quarter to lead 55-27, as two-time MVP Stephen Curry finished with 26 points from 22 minutes.

The Los Angeles Clippers secured the other remaining play-off spot.

They won 119-114 at the Phoenix Suns to secure the number five seed and a rematch with Phoenix in the first round of the play-offs as the Suns had already secured the fourth seed.

The Clippers' win left the Warriors as the sixth seed, meaning they will face the Sacramento Kings next.

The Los Angeles Lakers were hoping to snatch a guaranteed play-off spot on the final day and LeBron James scored 36 points with eight three-pointers as they beat the Utah Jazz 128-117.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/65228626
 
NBA: LA Lakers secure play-off place with dramatic win over Minnesota Timberwolves

LeBron James led the LA Lakers into the NBA play-offs with a dramatic comeback win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

James scored 30 points as the Lakers overturned a 15-point deficit to win the play-in match 108-102 in overtime.

The Lakers made their worst start to a season for 65 years by losing their first five games but will now play the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-offs.

"This is what our sport is all about - getting to April and an opportunity to play in the postseason," James said.

"We've been battle-tested all year and since the All-Star break we've been playing some good basketball."

In a action-packed finale, Dennis Schroder, who scored 21 points for Los Angeles, scored a three-pointer with 1.4 seconds left in regulation time to give the Lakers a 98-95 lead.

But Anthony Davis fouled Mike Conley as the Minnesota guard shot with 0.1 seconds to play, allowing Conley to make three free throws to take the game to overtime.

However, the Lakers recovered to control much of the extra period and win a game they trailed 76-61 midway through the third quarter.

Minnesota, without the suspended Rudy Gobert, will have another chance to qualify through the play-ins on Friday.

They will play the winner of Wednesday's meeting between the ninth and 10th seeds, the New Orleans Pelicans and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks set up a play-off series against the Boston Celtics by beating the Miami Heat 116-105.

Trae Young scored 25 points and Clint Capela recorded a game-high 21 rebounds for the Hawks.

The Heat will have another chance to advance when they play the winner of the play-in between the Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/65248408
 
The Chicago Bulls and the Oklahoma City Thunder remain in the hunt for a place in the NBA play-offs after winning their first play-in games on Wednesday.
 
NEW YORK, April 14, 2023 – The NBA announced today that the Dallas Mavericks organization has been fined $750,000 for conduct detrimental to the league in an elimination game against the Chicago Bulls on April 7.

The Mavericks violated the league’s player resting policy and demonstrated through actions and public statements the organization’s desire to lose the game in order to improve the chances of keeping its first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The league did not find that the players who participated in the game were not playing to win.

“The Dallas Mavericks’ decision to restrict key players from fully participating in an elimination game last Friday against Chicago undermined the integrity of our sport,” said Joe Dumars, NBA Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. “The Mavericks’ actions failed our fans and our league.”
 
NBA play-offs: Los Angeles Lakers upset Memphis Grizzlies in game one

The Los Angeles Lakers upset second seeds the Memphis Grizzlies with a 128-112 win in their Western Conference play-offs first-round opener.

Rui Hachimura scored 29 points off the bench for the visiting Lakers, who are seeded seventh.

Team-mate Austin Reaves hit 23 points, while Lakers stars Anthony Davis and LeBron James combined for 43 points.

Grizzlies guard Ja Morant left the game with just under six minutes left in the final quarter with a hand injury.

All-Star Morant appeared to fall heavily on his right hand after colliding with Davis in mid-air while attempting a dunk.

Despite Morant's absence, the hosts went on an 11-5 run to cut the deficit down to one point.

But the Lakers responded with a 15-0 run to finish the game and assume home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series.

Hachimura made 11 of his 14 shots, including five of six from three-point range, to spark the Lakers, who reached the play-offs after winning a play-in game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Game two of the series is also in Memphis on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, Giannis Antetokounmpo was forced off with injury in the second quarter as the Milwaukee Bucks fell to a 130-117 defeat by Miami Heat. Antetokounmpo will be assessed to see if he can play in game two of the series on Wednesday.

Miami's Jimmy Butler finished the game with 35 points, the 10th time he has scored 35 points or more in a play-off game for the Heat.

Kawhi Leonard notched 38 points, five rebounds and five assists to help the LA Clippers claim a 115-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

And Jamal Murray helped the Denver Nuggets stroll to a 109-80 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves with 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/65295522
 
Xavier Tillman inspired the Memphis Grizzlies to a 103-93 win over the LA Lakers to tie their Western Conference play-off series 1-1.

Tillman, 24, scored a play-off career-high 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Memphis overcame the absence of injured Ja Morant.

Elsewhere, the Milwaukee Bucks tied their series against the Miami Heat 1-1 with a 138-122 win.

The Denver Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-113 to go 2-0 up.

In an attritional game, the Lakers' Anthony Davis suffered a cut eyelid while Lebron James was drawn into a verbal back and forth with the Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks - who was not in the mood to apologise post-game.

"I don't care, he's old," Brooks said of 38-year-old James. "I poke bears."

The Lakers won the first game of the best-of-seven series on Monday, while the next game will be played on Sunday in Los Angeles.

The Bucks were missing the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo but had enough to overcome the Heat in their Eastern Conference play-off as seven players scored double figures.

The performance of the night arguably came from the Nuggets' Jamal Murray, who scored 40 points for the top-ranked side in the West.

The 26-year-old missed the whole of last season with torn knee ligaments.

BBC
 
A Nikola Jokic triple-double helped the Denver Nuggets to a 120-111 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves and one game from the conference semi-finals.

The Western Conference top seeds now have a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven play-off series.

In the Eastern Conference, Trae Young's 32 points helped the Atlanta Hawks beat the Boston Celtics 130-122.

And the New York Knicks took a 2-1 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 99-79 victory.

Jokic, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, scored 20 points with 11 rebounds and 12 assists to put the Nuggets on the brink of progressing, and was one of six players to score double figures.

No team has ever overturned a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series, but the Timberwolves must win on Sunday to have any chance.

"We know they're going to go even more aggressive in two days," Jokic said. "So we just need to keep our composure and we know what to expect."

The Hawks avoided going 3-0 down thanks to their victory against the Celtics. They could level the series in game four on Sunday.

The Celtics' Jayson Tatum scored 29 points and had a chance to level the scores with 58 seconds left but missed his three-point effort.

"I've got to play better; this one tonight is on me," he said.

The Knicks made it a night to remember with their dominant win over the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden, in what was the first play-off contest to be held there for two years.

But it was a night to forget for the Cavs, who became the first side to score fewer then 80 points in the NBA this season, and Darius Garland in particular.

He missed 17 of his 21 shot attempts and then injured an ankle after stepping on a courtside photographer's foot.
 
NBA play-offs: Philadelphia 76ers beat Brooklyn Nets to complete 4-0 series sweep

The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Brooklyn Nets 96-88 to complete a 4-0 series sweep in the NBA play-offs.

Missing star centre Joel Embiid, the 76ers produced an impressive second-half performance to set up a meeting with either Boston or Atlanta in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Embiid, a finalist for the Most Valuable Player award, suffered a right knee sprain in Thursday's game three.

"The whole group came together today," said the 76ers' Tobias Harris.

Harris, who led the scoring for Philadelphia with 25 points and 12 rebounds, added: "He's the MVP. And when we heard he wasn't playing, I think it was an opportunity for everybody else to really step up and understand we've got to get a win without the big fella.

"For us to come out here and get this victory, it feels great for the whole group. It's a great win for us and a great way to sweep the series."

The Sixers trailed by 11 points early in the third quarter but an 18-4 run saw them take the lead and they closed the game out in the fourth quarter, with De'Anthony Melton coming off the bench to produce 15 points.

Paul Reed finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds.

The 4-0 series victory was Philadelphia's first play-off sweep since 1991.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/65361192
 
NBA play-offs: Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks earn wins in first round

Defending champions the Golden State Warriors held off a fourth-quarter comeback from the Sacramento Kings to win a thriller in the NBA play-offs.

The third-seeded Kings trailed 102-92 after three quarters, but were handed momentum by a Stephen Curry error.

Leading by five, with 45 seconds left, Curry called a timeout with none left, and had to hand over possession.

The Kings reduced the score to 126-125 but Harrison Barnes missed a buzzer-beating three-pointer chance to win it.

That allowed the sixth-seeded Warriors to tie the series at 2-2.

Two-time NBA most valuable player Curry ended the game with 32 points while De'Aaron Fox top-scored for Sacramento with 37.

Game five is in Sacramento on Wednesday evening.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/65369950
 
Curry almost had an all time historic choke lol, decent playoffs so far save for all the injuries
 
Defending champions the Golden State Warriors held off a fourth-quarter comeback from the Sacramento Kings to win a thriller in the NBA play-offs.

The third-seeded Kings trailed 102-92 after three quarters, but were handed momentum by a Stephen Curry error.

Leading by five, with 45 seconds left, Curry called a timeout with none left, and had to hand over possession.

The Kings reduced the score to 126-125 but Harrison Barnes missed a buzzer-beating three-pointer chance to win it.

That allowed the sixth-seeded Warriors to tie the series at 2-2.

Two-time NBA most valuable player Curry ended the game with 32 points while De'Aaron Fox top-scored for Sacramento with 37.

Game five is in Sacramento on Wednesday evening.

Knicks one win away from semi-finals
Jalen Brunson scored 29 points as the New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-93 at Madison Square Garden to open up a 3-1 series lead.

The Knicks are now only one win away from advancing past the first round of the Eastern Conference play-offs for the first time since 2013.

Brunson was among four Knicks players to score double figures along with RH Barrett (26 points), Josh Hart (19) and Mitchell Robinson, who had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Game five is in Cleveland on Wednesday, with the series winner facing either Milwaukee or Miami.

The Denver Nuggets missed the chance to book their place in the Western Conference semi-finals when they were beaten 114-108 by the Minnesota Timberwolves in overtime.

Nikola Jokic scored 43 points, made 11 rebounds and registered six assists for Denver, who produced a 12-0 run at the end of regulation time to level the score at 96-96.

Minnesota, whose Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, came out on top after overtime to reduce their deficit to 3-1 in the play-off series.

The Boston Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks 129-121 to take a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round play-off series.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 31 points for the Celtics, with the former also having seven rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots.

The Hawks reduced the deficit to five points with three minutes and 36 seconds to play, but the Celtics scored the next seven points on the way to securing victory.
 
The Los Angeles Lakers took a 3-1 lead in their Western Conference 1st round match with the Memphis Grizzlies after a 117-111 win
 
NBA play-offs: Stephen Curry scores 50 points as Golden State Warriors eliminate Sacramento Kings

Stephen Curry ensured reigning NBA champions Golden State Warriors avoided an early play-off exit with a masterclass in the series decider at the Sacramento Kings.

Curry hit a play-off career-high 50 points as his side won 120-100.

The Warriors will face LeBron James's LA Lakers in the Western Conference semi-finals.

Earlier, the Miami Heat beat the New York Knicks 108-101 to go 1-0 up in the Eastern Conference semis.

The Warriors were trounced 118-99 in game six on Friday but Curry, chasing a fifth NBA title in nine years, starred in the decider - finishing with the most points ever in a game seven - as his side progressed.

The Kings, who were making their first post-season appearance in 17 years, and had the benefit of a home crowd, led 58-56 at half-time with Domantas Sabonis scoring 16 points.

But the third quarter belonged to the Warriors, and once Curry scored five points in a row to put them 69-62 up with seven minutes and 50 seconds remaining they seized control and never relinquished it.

Curry was devastating with seven three-pointers in his tally but Kevon Looney (21 rebounds and 11 points), Andrew Wiggins (17 points) and Klay Thompson (16 points) also played their parts in the win.

The opening game between the Lakers and the Warriors will take place at 03:00 BST on Wednesday in San Francisco.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/65445091
 
NBA: Joel Embiid named MVP, Los Angeles Lakers win Western Conference semi-final opener

The Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid has been named the NBA's most valuable player for the 2022-23 season.

The 29-year-old Cameroonian centre picked up 73 first-place votes, with two-time MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets second with 19.

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks was third.

Embiid won his second consecutive NBA scoring title in the regular season, with a career-high season average of 33.1 points per game.

The six-time All Star has missed the Sixers' last two games with a knee ligament sprain, including Monday's win over the Boston Celtics in the first game of their Eastern Conference semi-final.

Embiid is only the second African player to be crowned MVP, after Hakeem Olajuwon in the 1993-94 season, while it is the fifth consecutive season an international player has won the MVP trophy, which in December was renamed the Michael Jordan Trophy.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/65466385
 
NBA: Boston Celtics beat Philadelphia 76ers 121-87 to level semi-final

The Boston Celtics thrashed the Philadelphia 76ers 121-87 to level the Eastern Conference semi-final at 1-1.

Jaylen Brown scored 25 points and Malcolm Brogdon 23 from the bench, including six three-pointers, for the Celtics at TD Garden in Boston.

Sixers centre Joel Embiid, the 2022-23 NBA Most Valuable Player, returned from injury after two weeks out.

"We knew they were going to respond after the first game and we just weren't ready enough," said Embiid.

"They beat us to every loose ball. They played with more desperation than us. We didn't execute what we wanted to. We've got to be better."

Embiid scored 15 points and James Harden, who scored 45 in the Sixers' thrilling 119-115 win in game one on Tuesday, missed all six three-pointers and managed only 12 points.

Eight Celtics players contributed to their tally of 20 three-pointers, while the Sixers made six from 30 attempts.

The third game of the seven-game series takes place in Philadelphia on Friday.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/65478990
 
NBA: James Harden stars as Philadelphia 76ers level series with Boston Celtics

James Harden starred as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics in overtime to level their play-off series at 2-2.

Harden scored to send the game into overtime then made the decisive three-pointer to give the 76ers a 116-115 win.

Philadelphia led for much of the game before a late Boston surge helped them move into the lead.

But Harden's 42-point game meant the two sides go into game five all square.

"I put the work in and it was all about being aggressive. Tonight it was really do or die," Harden said.

He was supported by Joel Embiid, who scored 34 points, while Jayson Tatum (24), Jaylen Brown (23) and Marcus Smart (21) had helped to keep the Celtics in the game until the dying seconds.

Smart thought he had won it for Boston but his last-ditch three-pointer came after the buzzer.

Game five in the Eastern Conference play-off semi-final series is on Tuesday.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/65521987
 
Basketball star Dwight Howard has drawn a fierce backlash in China after he called Taiwan a "country" in a video.

The 37-year-old American's comments came in a commercial appearance alongside Taiwan's vice-president.

His remark was criticised as advocating "Taiwan independence" in China, which sees the island as a breakaway province.

Howard later told local media: "If I offended anyone in China, anybody you know, I apologise."

Taiwan views itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and elected leaders.

The video was created to promote an event which invited people to participate in a contest where winners spend a night at Taiwan's Presidential Office.

The eight-time NBA All-Star, who is famous in China where the sport is hugely popular, moved to Taiwan to play in the local league after he left the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022.

In the two-minute-long promotional video, the player said in English he had gained "a whole new appreciation of this country" since he arrived in Taiwan.

Taiwan's Vice-President Lai Ching-te, who played the director in the commercial, also described Taiwan as a "free country" when he mentioned that people who stay at the Presidential Office might bump into President Tsai Ing-wen when they go out for a late-night snack.

The video, published on Wednesday, was fiercely criticised in China.

The hashtag "Howard Taiwan independence" has been trending. Since last night, it has been read more than 400 million times on social media platform Weibo.

"Is he crazy? The promotional video has obvious Taiwan independence characters, how could he agree to do it..." wrote a basketball-focused account in a widely seen post.

Howard's official Weibo account, which has 1.6 million followers, has been flooded by negative comments. "Goodbye Howard, I will never like you again," one said.

The Global Times, a state-owned newspaper, wrote that Chinese people demanded an apology from Howard.

Taiwanese have also reacted to the row. "You won't be able to find this kind of freedom in China," one Facebook user wrote, referring to the chance of spending a night at the Presidential Office.

On Friday, while speaking at a public event in Taiwan, Howard claimed he had been misinterpreted.

"It was not my intention to harm anyone," he says. "I don't want to get involved in any politics. I am a human, and I have the right to speak."

His team Taoyuan Leopards didn't respond to the BBC's request for comment.

This is not the first time a US basketball star has been caught in a row with China.

Boston Celtics player Enes Kanter came under fire in 2021 after calling President Xi Jinping a "brutal dictator".

Tensions across the Taiwan Strait have been rising in recent years. China's military last month conducted a three-day military exercise rehearsing the encirclement of the island as President Tsai returned from a trip to the US.

And a visit from former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last year triggered China's largest show of force in years, with a series of military exercises involving fighter jets, warships, and the firing of ballistic missiles.
 
LeBron James had 30 points, nine rebounds and nine assists and the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated the defending NBA champions with a 122-101 victory in Game 6 of the second-round series
 
NBA play-offs: Jayson Tatum's 51-point haul leads Boston Celtics to series win

Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to a 112-88 game-seven victory over the Philadelphia 76ers to reach the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

Tatum's 51 points beat the game-seven record of 50 set by Golden State's Stephen Curry against the Sacramento Kings earlier this month.

He also added 13 rebounds, five assists and a couple of steals.

Boston will now face the Miami Heat - the team they they beat in seven games in last year's conference finals.

The opening game of the series takes place on Thursday at 01:30 BST.

The Celtics defence restricted NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid, who was held to 15 points.

Jaylen Brown added 25 points for Boston, who broke open a close game in the third quarter as they out-scored the 76ers 33-10.

Philadelphia went six minutes of the period without a basket and trailed by 26 heading into the fourth, when Boston pushed the lead to 30 with less than four minutes to play after Tatum was taken out of the game.

"It felt great," Tatum told ESPN. "This was a back and forth series. Obviously I didn't play well the first half of the last game and I was just happy to get an opportunity to bounce back.

"To come back home, game seven on Mother's Day. I had to put on a special performance for her."

It was another crushing play-off exit for the 76ers who were led by Tobias Harris' 19 points, while star guard James Harden scored just nine as they were limited to 37.3% shooting from the floor.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/65593287
 
Jimmy Butler scored 27 points for the Miami Heat as they beat the Boston Celtics 111-105 to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference finals series.

The Heat trailed by 11 points early in the fourth quarter before a 20-9 run helped them turn the game around.

Butler scored nine points in a final quarter in which, with his side 96-89 behind, he clashed with Boston's Grant Williams.

"He hit a big shot and started talking to me. I like that," Butler said.

"I'm all for that. It makes me key in a lot more. It pushes that will that I have to win a lot more. It makes me smile. It does.

"But it's just competition. I do respect him, though. He's a big part of what they try to do. I just don't know if I'm the best person to talk to."

Miami forward Caleb Martin added: "We'll take 'Mad' Jimmy any time. I could see it in his eyes that he was ready to go after that."
 
Carmelo Anthony has confirmed his retirement from basketball after a 20-year career in the NBA.
 
'I have a lot to think about' - LeBron James considers LA Lakers future

LeBron James says he has "a lot to think about" after the Los Angeles Lakers were knocked out of the NBA play-offs by the Denver Nuggets.

The Lakers were beaten 4-0 in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals by the Denver Nuggets.

It leaves the Lakers without a trophy for the third consecutive season, while James' post-game comments have fuelled talk he could be set to retire.

"We'll see what happens going forward. I don't know," said James, 38.

"I've got a lot to think about to be honest."

The star forward is arguably the biggest name in the sport after 20 seasons in the league, during which time he has set numerous records.

The four-time NBA champion won two titles with the Miami Heat before leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the only NBA title in their history in 2016.

He then guided the Lakers to the 2020 crown - the fourth time he was named Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP).

The two-time Olympic champion has also won four regular season MVP titles and appeared in the NBA Finals 10 times.

In February, he became the NBA's all-time leading scorer, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's long-standing record of 38,387, set in 1989.

But after Monday's defeat, in which he scored 31 points in the first half and finished with 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, he described the season as "challenging".

"I don't know. I think it was OK. I don't like to say it's a successful year because I don't play for anything besides winning championships at this point in my career," he said.

"I don't get a kick out of making a conference [finals] appearance. I've done it, a lot. And it's not fun to me to not be able to be a part of getting to the Finals.

"For me, it's all about availability for me and keeping my mind sharp and things of that nature, being present on the floor, being present in the locker room and bus rides and plane rides, things of that nature. It's challenging.

"But we'll see. We'll see. We'll see what happens going forward."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/65681180
 
The Los Angeles Lakers are hopeful of LeBron James continuing his career with them after he questioned his future following the team's whitewash playoff exit against the Denver Nuggets.
 
After previously falling behind 3-0 in the Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics defeated the Heat 104-103 in Game 6 on Saturday to send the series to a winner-take-all showdown in Boston on Monday to decide who will play the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals.
 
The Miami Heat halted the Boston Celtics' remarkable fightback in the Eastern Conference Finals, clinching the deciding match 103-84 to reach the NBA finals.

Jimmy Butler starred, scoring 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists, as the Heat, who led the seven-game series 3-0 before being pegged back to 3-3, reached this year's showpiece.

The first eighth seeds to reach the finals since the New York Knicks in 1999, the Heat will play the the Denver Nuggets in the best-of-seven finals.

Game one will be played in Denver on Thursday (01:30 BST Friday).

Derrick White's dramatic buzzer-beater in game six had tied the series, giving the The Celtics hope of becoming the first side in NBA history to overturn a 3-0 deficit in a play-off final.

But alongside Butler's efforts, Caleb Martin scored 26 points and Bam Adebayo recorded 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as the Heat silenced a passionate Boston crowd.

Butler, 33, was named MVP of the series after averaging 24.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists.

"We stayed together as a group," he said.

"We talked about going to get a tough one on the road and we did just that. [My team-mates] are the reason we're here. I know how good a team we are and we made it happen."

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he never doubted his squad's resilience.

"Sometimes you have to suffer for the things you really want," he said.

"This group has shown fortitude when there are inevitable let-downs and failures, but had that perseverance to pick yourself up, that collective spirit to keep on forging ahead."

The Heat are seeking a fourth NBA title and first since 2013, while The Nuggets, who beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference play-offs, are in search of a maiden championship.

BBC
 
Ja Morant suspension: Adam Silver says NBA 'uncovered a fair amount' of new info, will announce decision after Finals

Ja Morant remains suspended indefinitely by the Memphis Grizzlies after appearing on social media with a gun again, and it sounds like some significant discipline from the NBA could be on the way.

When asked about the Grizzlies star during his pre-NBA Finals news conference, Commissioner Adam Silver said his office had discovered "a fair amount of additional information" on Morant and would have already made a decision about him had it not been for the playoffs:

"In terms of the timing, we’ve uncovered a fair amount of additional information since I was asked about the situation. We probably could have brought it to a head now, but we made the decision — and I believe the players association agrees with us — that it would be unfair to these players and these teams in the middle of this series to announce the results of that investigation.”

Silver went on to say the Morant decision will be announced "shortly after the conclusion of the Finals." He also said an individual player's history is considered while determining a player's discipline, which probably isn't good news for Morant.

...
https://sports.yahoo.com/ja-morant-...announce-decision-after-finals-001736043.html
 
Gabe Vincent scored 23 points, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo each had 21 and the Miami Heat evened up the NBA finals by overcoming a monster effort from Nikola Jokic to beat Denver 111-108 in Game 2
 
NBA Finals live updates: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray make history in Nuggets' Game 3 win

Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone’s blunt honesty and his players’ willingness to own a lackluster effort made a difference in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday.

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray got back to their effective two-man game, and the Nuggets' re-commitment to defense led to a 109-94 victory over the Miami Heat and a 2-1 series lead.

Jokic recorded the first 30-point, 20-rebound triple-double in Finals history, finishing with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists, and Murray notched a triple-double by putting up 34 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. This is the first time in NBA history ― playoffs or regular season ― that teammates had 30-point triple-doubles.

“I have no doubt that our guys will go out there and play a much better game than we did in Game 2 in Denver,” Malone said hours before tipoff and three days after calling out his team for their effort in Sunday’s loss.

...
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2023/06/07/nba-finals-game-3-live-updates/70298290007/
 
The Denver Nuggets moved to within one win of their first NBA title with a 108-95 victory over the Miami Heat to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.

The Nuggets dominated throughout in what was a superb team effort.

Forward Aaron Gordon proved a key figure with 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

The Nuggets can secure the championship with a home win in game five on Monday evening (01:30 BST on Tuesday).

"I thought Aaron was huge all night long," said Nuggets head coach Michael Malone. "He brought his hard hat tonight and was just a warrior on both ends for us.

"This is truly a team win. We've done our job but we're not celebrating like we've done anything yet.

"We know we're going to have to go home and turn off the TV, the radio, don't read the papers, don't listen to everybody telling you how great you are because we haven't done a thing yet.

"We have to win another game to be world champions, and we're going to do that by simply taking it one quarter at a time. If we stay true to our identity, we'll give ourselves a great chance to do that."

There was a scare for the Nuggets when two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic tweaked an ankle in the first quarter and then had to sit out a five minute-spell in the fourth quarter because of foul trouble.

But Miami failed to take advantage of his absence and once the Serbian returned with 4:09 left in the game, Denver, who had led by four at the break and extended their advantage to 13 points in the third quarter, remained in control.

Jokic finished with 23 points, Bruce Brown scored three late baskets to end with 21 while guard Jamal Murray had 15 points and 12 assists.

"Every time we felt like we got it to six or eight, they were able to push it to 12," said Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra, who insisted that the series could still be turned around.

"We have an incredibly competitive group. We've done everything the hard way, and that's the way it's going to have to be done right now, again."
 
Nuggets defeat Heat to claim first NBA title in franchise history

Confetti flying in Denver. The Nuggets passing around the NBA championship trophy.

Those scenes that, for decades, seemed impossible, then more recently started feeling inevitable, finally turned into reality Monday night.

The Nuggets outlasted the Miami Heat 94-89 in an ugly, frantic Game 5 that did nothing to derail Nikola Jokic, who bailed out his teammates with 28 points, 16 rebounds on a night when nothing else seemed to work.

Jokic won the Bill Russell trophy as the NBA Finals MVP — an award that certainly has more meaning to him than the two overall MVPs he won in 2021 and ’22.

“We are not in it for ourselves, we are in it for the guy next to us,” Jokic said. “And that’s why this (means) even more.”

Denver's clincher in the best-of-seven series was a gruesome grind.

Unable to shake the tenacious Heat or the closing-night jitters, the Nuggets missed 20 of their first 22 3-pointers. They missed seven of their first 13 free throws. They led by seven late, before Miami’s Jimmy Butler went off, scoring eight straight points to give the Heat a one-point lead with 2:45 left.

Butler made two more free throws with 1:58 remaining to help Miami regain a one-point lead. Then, Bruce Brown got an offensive rebound and tip-in to give the Nuggets the lead for good.

Trailing by three with 15 seconds left, Butler jacked up a 3, but missed it. Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made two free throws each to put the game out of reach and clinch the title for Denver.

Butler finished with 21 points.

Ugly as it was, the aftermath was something the Nuggets and their fans could all agree was beautiful. There were fireworks exploding outside Ball Arena at the final buzzer. Denver is the home of the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the first time in the franchise’s 47 years in the league.

“It was ugly and we couldn’t make shots, but at the end we figured it out,” Jokic said. "I am just happy we won the game.”

The Heat were, as coach Erik Spoelstra promised, a gritty, tenacious bunch. But their shooting wasn’t great, either. Bam Adebayo had 20 for the Heat, but Miami shot 34 per cent from the floor and 25 per cent from 3. Until Butler went off, he was 2-for-13 for eight points.

The Heat, who survived a loss in the play-in tournament and became only the second No. 8 seed to make it to the finals, insisted they weren’t into consolation prizes.

...
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/articl...o-claim-first-nba-title-in-franchise-history/
 
Ja Morant: NBA suspends Memphis Grizzlies guard for 25 games over gun incidents

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been suspended for 25 games without pay for "conduct detrimental to the NBA".

Morant, 23, was "suspended from all team activities" in May after appearing to hold a gun in a social media video for the second time in two months.

His return is subject to completing an NBA programme that "directly addresses the circumstances that led him to repeat this destructive behaviour".

Morant was suspended for eight games after the initial incident in March.

On that occasion, a video showed the All-Star guard, who was the second overall draft pick in 2019, holding a gun in a Colorado nightclub, after which he apologised and said he would "get help".

"I take full responsibility for my actions last night," he added in a statement.

Morant said he is "committed to continuing to work on myself" after the latest incident, when during a live broadcast on Instagram he posed with a gun in a car with several other individuals as they left a social gathering in Memphis.

"I know I've disappointed a lot of people who have supported me," Morant said.

"This is a journey and I recognise there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions."

The 2023-24 NBA season begins in October, with each team playing 82 regular-season games.

The NBA said that Morant's suspension begins immediately and will remain in effect for the first 25 games for which he is otherwise eligible and able to play.

"For Ja, basketball needs to take a back seat at this time," said NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

"[His] decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting.

"The potential for other young people to emulate Ja's conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behaviour with guns will not be tolerated."

The National Basketball Players Association, the league's players union, criticised the length of the ban.

"We believe it is excessive and inappropriate for a number of reasons," NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio said.

"It is not fair and consistent with past discipline in our league. We will explore with Ja all options and next steps."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/65933034
 
Victor Wembanyama has targeted winning an NBA championship ring after the San Antonio Spurs chose him as the number one overall pick in the 2023 draft.

The 19-year-old Frenchman is regarded as one of the games biggest prospects and one of the most coveted picks since LeBron James in 2003.

Wembanyama is listed at 7ft 5in and has an 8ft wingspan.

"My goal is to try and learn as much as possible because I want to win that ring," said Wembanyama.

The NBA draft is made up of two rounds of 30 picks, with 30 teams choosing players based on where they finished last season.

The worst performing teams pick at the top of the draft, where they have access to the best incoming talent.

The 2023 draft was held in Brooklyn with NBA commissioner Adam Silver announcing the picks.

"This is accomplishing something that I have been dreaming of my whole life," Wembanyama told ESPN.

"Hearing that sentence from Adam Silver, I've dreamed of it so much that I have to cry, man."

ADVERTISEMENT

French president Emmanuel Macron congratulated Wembanyama on becoming "the first Frenchman to be the first pick in the NBA draft".

In a post on social media, he added: "You're already making us dream, Victor Wembanyama. No doubt about it: you'll change the game!"

Wembanyama played for Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 in France during the past season and averaged 20.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.0 blocked shots and 2.5 assists in 44 games.

"We're thrilled that we were able to bring Victor on board," said San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

"He's obviously a heck of a talent, a very mature young man. But just like with every draft pick, whether it's the first pick or the 27th pick, or the 38th pick, we have a responsibility to each and every one to try to create an environment where they can reach the best success possible for them.

"We're going to get him on the court and we're going to see him play, and we'll go from there."

LA Lakers star LeBron James watched when Wembanyama starred in an exhibition game in Las Vegas last October.

"He's more like an alien, he's for sure a generational talent,"said James.

In basketball circles the teenager is what's known as a 'unicorn' - a player who can do it all - but Wembanyama recently said he preferred the description from James.

"First of all, I'm really glad he said that because I didn't like to be called a unicorn,"Wembanyama told Sports Illustrated. "I like it because it's just something not from this world.

"I like being called an alien, yeah. It's really what I'm working to be - something unique and original."

Brandon Miller, a 6ft 9in 20-year-old who starred at the University of Alabama, was the number two pick in the draft and went to the Charlotte Hornets.

Scoot Henderson, who has played the last two seasons in the NBA's developmental 'G-league', was chosen by the Portland Trail Blazers as the third pick.

The 20-year-old identical twins Amen and Ausar Thompson made up the top five of picks.

Amen Thompson went to the Houston Rockets as fourth pick in the draft, while Ausar Thompson was fifth pick when he was chosen by the Detroit Pistons.
 

James Harden calls Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey a 'liar' over trade talks​


James Harden says he will not play for the Philadelphia 76ers while president Daryl Morey remains in charge.

The 10-time NBA All-Star guard, 33, made the comments two days after it was reported the 76ers had ended talks about trading him.
"Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organisation that he's a part of," Harden said.

"Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organisation that he's a part of."

Harden, who was named the NBA's most valuable player (MVP) in 2018, is thought to want a move to the Los Angeles Clippers.

According to ESPN, talks between the 76ers and the Clippers broke down because of the demands set by his current team.

The 76ers are thought to have told Harden they plan to bring him back to their training camp for the start of the season.

That appears to have triggered the comments from Harden, who was speaking during a promotional event in China on Monday.

Morey was general manager of the Houston Rockets when Harden spent more than eight seasons with the franchise.

The pair's relationship was a key factor in Harden moving to Philadelphia in a trade which sent Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets.

The 76ers, who lost to rivals the Boston Celtics in last season's Eastern Conference semi-finals by blowing a 3-2 lead, still hope to have Harden playing alongside reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid in the upcoming season.

The regular season starts on 24 October, with the 76ers playing the Celtics in their first pre-season game on 8 October.

www.bbc.co.uk

James Harden calls Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey a 'liar' over trade talks

Ten-time NBA All-Star guard James Harden says he will not play for the Philadelphia 76ers while president Daryl Morey remains in charge.
www.bbc.co.uk
 
Firebat said:

James Harden calls Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey a 'liar' over trade talks​


James Harden says he will not play for the Philadelphia 76ers while president Daryl Morey remains in charge.

The 10-time NBA All-Star guard, 33, made the comments two days after it was reported the 76ers had ended talks about trading him.
"Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organisation that he's a part of," Harden said.

"Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organisation that he's a part of."

Harden, who was named the NBA's most valuable player (MVP) in 2018, is thought to want a move to the Los Angeles Clippers.

According to ESPN, talks between the 76ers and the Clippers broke down because of the demands set by his current team.

The 76ers are thought to have told Harden they plan to bring him back to their training camp for the start of the season.

That appears to have triggered the comments from Harden, who was speaking during a promotional event in China on Monday.

Morey was general manager of the Houston Rockets when Harden spent more than eight seasons with the franchise.

The pair's relationship was a key factor in Harden moving to Philadelphia in a trade which sent Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets.

The 76ers, who lost to rivals the Boston Celtics in last season's Eastern Conference semi-finals by blowing a 3-2 lead, still hope to have Harden playing alongside reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid in the upcoming season.

The regular season starts on 24 October, with the 76ers playing the Celtics in their first pre-season game on 8 October.

www.bbc.co.uk

James Harden calls Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey a 'liar' over trade talks

Ten-time NBA All-Star guard James Harden says he will not play for the Philadelphia 76ers while president Daryl Morey remains in charge.
www.bbc.co.uk
Click to expand...

Not the same force anymore as he used to be. Joel Embid wishes he was still with Jimmy Butler. Had they stayed together they could have won last year.
 
James Harden has been fined $100,000 by the NBA for saying he would not play for the Philadelphia 76ers while president Daryl Morey was in charge.
 
NBA fines James Harden $100,000 for threatening not to play for Philadelphia 76ers.

James Harden has been fined $100,000 by the NBA for saying he would not play for the Philadelphia 76ers while president Daryl Morey was in charge.

The guard called Morey a "liar" in an interview after reports the 76ers had ended talks about trading him.

Harden, 33, was reportedly keen to join the LA Clippers before talks faltered.

The NBA said the fine was for saying "he would not perform the services called for under his player contract unless traded to another team".

In response, the National Basketball Players Association said: "We respectfully disagree with the league's decision to discipline James Harden for recent comments he made, which we believe do not violate the rule against public trade demands.

"We intend to file a grievance and have the matter heard by our Arbitrator."

The fine relates to comments made by Harden on 14 and 17 August, when he in effect threatened to strike by refusing to play for the 76ers over their refusal to trade him.

The NBA added: "The league's investigation, which included an interview of Harden, confirmed that these comments referenced Harden's belief that the 76ers would not accommodate his request to be traded."

Harden made the controversial comments about Morey on 14 August during a promotional event in China.

He said: "Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organisation that he's a part of. Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organisation that he's a part of."

Harden said in subsequent media interviews that Morey had gone back on a promise to trade him quickly earlier in the off-season.

According to ESPN, talks between the 76ers and the Clippers broke down because of the demands set by his current team, who are expecting the player to return for a training camp in September.

Harden was named the NBA's most valuable player (MVP) in 2018 while playing for the Houston Rockets, where Morey was general manager.

The pair's relationship was a key factor in Harden moving to Philadelphia in a trade which sent Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets.

Harden helped the 76ers, alongside reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid, to last season's Eastern Conference semi-finals, where they lost to rivals Boston Celtics after blowing a 3-2 lead in the series.

The regular season starts on 24 October, with the 76ers playing the Celtics in their first pre-season game on 8 October.

BBC
 
😂 I mean, he picked up his $35.6 mil player option, Harden's situation is like buying a non-refundable ticket and then realizing you don't want to go on the trip. What he feels and what he thinks are totally different then what he is actually capable of in this situation. He's got the talent but that player option? It will keep him stuck in Phily's locker room for a while.:unsure:
 
NBA: LeBron James' son Bronny set to resume playing as congenital heart defect identified

Bronny James, the eldest son of NBA star LeBron James, is set to carry on playing after a heart defect he has had since birth was identified.

Bronny, 18, suffered a cardiac arrest while practising with his University of Southern California team last month.

He was discharged from a Los Angeles hospital three days later.

His family said the previously hidden heart defeat "can and will be treated" and that he hopes to return to action during his first year at USC.

"We are very confident in Bronny's full recovery and return to basketball in the very near future," the family added.

The eldest of three siblings, Bronny has a younger brother, Bryce Maximus, 16, and sister, Zhuri, eight.

After an impressive basketball career at the Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles, he rejected a number of approaches from other universities to commit to USC in May.

A four-time NBA champion and four-time Most Valuable Player, LeBron became the NBA's all-time leading scorer in February.

The 38-year-old has previously said he wants to extend his career long enough to be able to play in the NBA with his eldest son Bronny.

The family added: "We will continue to provide updates to media and respectfully reiterate the family's request for privacy."

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James' son to play again as heart defect identified

Bronny James, the eldest son of NBA star LeBron James, is set to continue playing basketball after a congenital heart defect is identified.
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Defending champions Spain are out of the Basketball World Cup after a 88-85 loss to Canada in Jakarta.

Canada's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a NBA all-star with the Oklahoma City Thunder, top scored with 30 points as they eliminated the European champions.

Meanwhile, the United States, already through to the quarter-finals, were beaten 110-104 by Lithuania in Manila.

BBC
 
Wow this is one of the weirdest sports rules I've ever seen...

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NBA: New basketball rules mean teams can only rest one star player per game

NBA teams will be able to rest only one star player per game this season under new rules, with potential fines of millions of dollars.

The Player Participation Policy defines a star player as anybody picked in an All-NBA Team or NBA All-Star team in the previous three seasons.

"If you're a healthy player in this league, you're expected to play," said NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

NBA teams will play 82 regular-season games from 24 October until 19 April.

Teams have been told to "manage its roster to ensure that no more than one star player is unavailable for the same game".

Teams will be fined $100,000 (£80,000) for the first violation and $250,000 (£200,000) for the second. Each further violation will be met by a fine of $1m (£800,000) more than the previous one.

Franchises have to "maintain a balance" between the home and away games a star player misses, while star players have to be available for all nationally televised matches.

If a fit player is rested, they must attend the game and be "visible to fans". Star players cannot have a "long-term shutdown" - a run of games they miss.

The new policy has exceptions for injuries, personal reasons and pre-approved restrictions on back-to-back games based on age, career workload and injury history.

Teams play roughly every two days during the season - 82 matches over 178 days.

The NBA has cut down on teams having to play consecutive games in different cities, increasing back-to-back away games against the same opposition.

Silver said: "It's a shared view by everyone in the league - it's not just coming from the league office.

"There's an acknowledgment across the league that we need to return to that principle. There's a sense from all the different constituent groups across the league that this is about the fans.

"It's gotten away from us, particularly when you see young, healthy players.

"We don't see any statistical data suggesting players increase their likelihood of getting injured as they go further along in their season, or even in back-to-backs, which may surprise people."

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NBA teams banned from resting multiple star players

NBA teams will be able to rest only one star player per game this season under new rules, with potential fines of millions of dollars.
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Olympic Games: NBA's MVP Joel Embiid's USA decision 'very disappointing' for Africa

Joel Embiid's decision to represent the USA over his native Cameroon has left the African nation "legitimately annoyed", according to a source at the country's basketball governing body.

Embiid, the NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player, confirmed on social media platform X on Friday that he will play for the United States at next year's Olympic Games in Paris.

Cameroon were hopeful the Philadelphia 76ers star would choose the country of his birth, while France also had an interest after the 29-year-old centre received citizenship there last year.

"It's annoying because many people thought he would choose Cameroon," a source, who did not want to be named, at the Cameroon Basketball Federation (Fecabasket) told BBC Sport Africa.

"Embiid's choice was legitimate and the reaction of Cameroonians, who are annoyed, is legitimate at the same time."

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Embiid's USA decision 'very disappointing' for Africa

NBA star Joel Embiid's decision to represent the USA over Cameroon is "very disappointing" for Africa and has "annoyed" Cameroon.
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Joel Embiid: 76ers centre fined $35,000 for making 'obscene gesture'

Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid has been fined $35,000 (£28,800) for repeatedly making an "obscene gesture" against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The incident happened in the third quarter when Embiid made a two-point basket and was fouled by Malcom Brogdon.

Embiid, 29, subsequently missed the free throw, though the 76ers won 126-98 at Wells Fargo Center.

The Cameroonian is a six-time All-Star and was named NBA MVP in 2022-23.

Game highs in points (35) and rebounds (15) from Embiid helped the 76ers to record their second win of the season and they sit second in the Eastern Conference.

The 76ers host the Toronto Raptors in their next outing on 3 November.

www.bbc.co.uk

76ers' Embiid fined for making 'obscene gesture'

Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid is handed a $35,000 (£28,800) fine for repeatedly making an "obscene gesture" during Sunday's win against the Portland Trail Blazers.
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James Harden: Ten-time NBA All-Star guard joins LA Clippers from Philadelphia 76ers after strike

James Harden has completed a move to the Los Angeles Clippers from the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 10-time NBA All-Star guard, 33, has sat out the 76ers' first three games of the season amid his feud with Philadelphia president Daryl Morey.

Harden called Morey a "liar" in an interview after reports the 76ers had ended talks about trading him.

"James is one of the most prolific and efficient playmakers in the NBA," said Clippers president Lawrence Frank.

"With his size and vision, he possesses an extraordinary ability to create for himself and others."

The deal also includes the trade of 76ers duo P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev in exchange for Clippers players Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington and Kenyon Martin.

"The Los Angeles area has produced so many elite players in recent years," added Frank.

"We're excited to bring them together and eager to see what they can accomplish with the rest of our group."

The Clippers confirmed the deal on Wednesday after Harden sparked controversy when he threatened to strike by refusing to play for the 76ers over their refusal to trade him.

Harden had expressed his desire to join the Clippers to partner with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, as well as his former teammate Russell Westbrook, and said in August he would not play for the 76ers while Morey remained in charge.

At a promotional event in China, he said: "Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organisation that he's a part of. Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organisation that he's a part of."

He was fined $100,000 (£82,556) by the NBA for the comments and the league said: "The league's investigation, which included an interview of Harden, confirmed that these comments referenced Harden's belief that the 76ers would not accommodate his request to be traded."


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Harden joins Clippers from 76ers after strike

Ten-time NBA All-Star guard James Harden completes move to the Los Angeles Clippers from the Philadelphia 76ers after a strike with his former club.
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NBA: Victor Wembanyama stars as San Antonio Spurs beat Phoenix Suns

Teenage sensation Victor Wembanyama scored 38 points - his most in an NBA game - to help the San Antonio Spurs beat the Phoenix Suns 132-121.

The 19-year-old, who was the league's top draft pick this year and stands at 7ft 4in tall, also grabbed 10 rebounds in his fifth NBA game.

The Suns erased a 27-point deficit to level at 116-116 in the fourth quarter.

Frenchman Wembanyama then scored 10 points as the Spurs went on a 12-0 run on the way to securing victory.

"Somebody's got to do it," said Wembanyama. "Tomorrow it's going to be one of my team-mates. This is how we work - as a group, as a team.

"The NBA's got the greatest athletes on Earth but, so far, it's working out pretty well."

Overall, Wembanyama has scored 103 points in his five NBA outings.

"He is a multi-faceted player," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

"He'll pass to the open guy but he's got confidence in himself. He made some plays that were unbelievable so that combination is pretty good if you have that skill and you're still willing to pass."

Devin Booker scored 31 points and registered 13 assists for the Suns on his return from an ankle injury, while team-mate Kevin Durant scored 28 points.

"I know we are both skinny and I'm sure he said he watched me growing up but he's his own player," said Durant when asked about Wembanyama after the game.

"He is going to create his own lane. He's much different than anybody who's ever played."

Elsewhere, Paolo Banchero found the basket with 14 seconds remaining and scored a season-high 30 points to help the Orlando Magic to a thrilling 115-113 win against the Utah Jazz.

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Wembanyama stars with 38 points as Spurs beat Suns

French teenager Victor Wembanyama scores 38 points - his most in an NBA game - as he helps the San Antonio Spurs beat the Phoenix Suns.
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NBA: LeBron James scores 37 points as Los Angeles Lakers beat Houston Rockets

LeBron James scored a season-high 37 points as the Los Angeles Lakers clinched a 105-104 victory over the Houston Rockets.

James, who also added eight assists and six rebounds, made one of two free throws to give Los Angeles the lead with 1.9 seconds remaining.

Dillon Brooks missed a three-point attempt for the Rockets at the buzzer.

It is the Lakers' fifth win in six games since their 128-94 thrashing by Houston earlier this month.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Kevin Durant scored 39 points to help lift the Phoenix Suns to a 140-137 double overtime win over the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

Devin Booker added a pair of free throws in the final moments of second overtime as the Suns won for the second time in Utah in three nights.

NBA champions the Denver Nuggets fell to a 121-109 defeat by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who claimed a third straight win despite the absence of star guard Donovan Mitchell and top reserve Caris LeVert.

Joel Embiid scored 32 points within three quarters to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 121-99 victory at the Brooklyn Nets.

The reigning Most Valuable Player fell just short of a sixth career triple-double as he added 12 rebounds and nine assists.

Meanwhile, Domantas Sabonis scored a game-high 32 points and De'Aaron Fox added 30 as the Sacramento Kings defeated the Dallas Mavericks 129-113 for a sixth straight win.

The Boston Celtics also stretched their winning run to six as they beat the Memphis Grizzlies 102-100.

Kristaps Porzingis had 26 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots, including a crucial block to deny Zaire Williams at the buzzer.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points in just 23 minutes on court as the Oklahoma City Thunder thrashed the Portland Trail Blazers 134-91 for a fifth successive win.

Elsewhere, the Orlando Magic beat the Indiana Pacers 128-116 in Indianapolis, with 24 points from Paolo Banchero and 19 from Franz Wagner.

Pascal Siakam scored 23 points as the Toronto Raptors secured a 142-113 win over the Detroit Pistons, who slumped to an 11th straight defeat.

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James scores 37 to lead Lakers past Rockets

LeBron James scores a season-high 37 points as the Los Angeles Lakers clinch a 105-104 victory over the Houston Rockets.
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NBA: Stephen Curry helps Golden State Warriors beat Houston Rockets to end losing streak

Stephen Curry scored a game-high 32 points to help the Golden State Warriors beat the Houston Rockets 121-116 and end a six-game losing streak.

Curry and Klay Thompson each made five three-pointers as Houston lost for the fifth time on the road this season.

The victory is the Warriors' first win in three matches since Draymond Green began a five-game ban.

Also on Monday, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 142-129 win over the Washington Wizards.

Antetokounmpo made 20 of his 23 attempts to finish with 42 points, while he added 13 rebounds and eight assists.

The Denver Nuggets overcame the ejection of two-time Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic and head coach Michael Malone to claim a 107-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Jokic exited with 1:22 left in the first half after giving up two technical fouls, while Malone was ejected after arguing a call late in the first quarter.

Reggie Jackson led the reigning champions with 21 points while the Pistons slumped to a 12th straight loss.

Meanwhile, French teenager Victor Wembanyama, the number one draft pick, was restricted to just nine points as the San Antonio Spurs lost their ninth successive match - beaten 124-99 by the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Miami Heat cruised to a 118-100 win at the Chicago Bulls, with Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson scoring 23 and 22 points respectively.

Brandon Ingram scored 32 points, hitting all five of his attempted three-pointers, to power the New Orleans Pelicans to a 129-93 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Elsewhere, Jayson Tatum's 45-point display was not enough for the Boston Celtics who were beaten 121-118 by the Charlotte Hornets, with Miles Bridges hitting a match-winning three-pointer with six seconds left in overtime.

Anthony Edwards scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New York Knicks 117-100 in Minneapolis.

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Curry helps Warriors beat Rockets to end losing run

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combine to score 52 points and help the Golden State Warriors end a six-game losing streak.
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NBA: LeBron James passes 39,000 points as La Lakers beat Utah Jazz

LeBron James became the first player to score 39,000 points in the NBA as the LA Lakers beat the Utah Jazz in the in-season tournament.

Needing five points, he scored 17 in a 131-99 victory in Los Angeles that secured a quarter-final place.

James, 38, surpassed Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's tally of 38,387 points in February to become the leading scorer of all time.

"I haven't really had chance to wrap my head around what it means," James said.

"There's been so many great players in this league since the beginning of time, and so many great scorers.

"To be able to be the first of anything is always pretty cool. A wild moment, for sure."

The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player saluted the crowd at the Crypto.com Arena when his achievement was announced.

James recorded nine assists and seven rebounds and team-mate Anthony Davis scored 26 points and made 16 rebounds.

The Indiana Pacers reached the last eight with a 157-152 win at the Atlanta Hawks.

Tyrese Haliburton, who said this week the tournament gave "more juice" to early season games, scored 37 points as the Pacers overturned a 20-point first-half deficit.

Darius Garland's 32 points led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 122-119 overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers that kept their qualifying hopes alive.

The quarter-finals take place on 4 and 5 December, with the semis on 7 December and the final on 9 December in Las Vegas.


BBC
 
NBA: San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich chastises fans for booing Kawhi Leonard in loss to LA Clippers

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich chastised home fans who jeered former player Kawhi Leonard during the 109-102 defeat to LA Clippers.

Leonard left the Spurs in 2018 and was booed by their fans as he lined up to take free throws in the second quarter.

Popovich grabbed a courtside microphone to make a spikey announcement.

"Excuse me for a second, please stop all the booing. Let these guys play, and show a little class, it's not who we are. Knock off the booing," he said

Leonard played a starring role in the Spurs' NBA Finals victory in 2014, being named Most Valuable Player in the 4-1 series victory over the Miami Heat.

However, he asked to be traded four years later during his rehabilitation from injury.

Popovich only briefly touched on the subject when he spoke to reporters after the match and said he did not want Leonard to be fired up by the crowd.

Leonard ended up top scorer for the Clippers in the match at the Frost Bank Center with 26 points, including scoring free throws either side of Popovich's request over the public address system.

"You don't poke the bear. Anybody who knows anything about sports knows you don't poke the bear," Popovich added.

Leonard said he was not surprised by the reaction of the Spurs fans, who he acknowledged were some of the most passionate supporters he had encountered.

"If I don't have a Spurs jersey on they're probably gonna boo me for the rest of my career," he said.

"It is what it is. They're one of the best fanbases in the league and they're competitive, and when I step on this basketball court I can hear that.

"When I'm on the streets or going into restaurants they show love."



BBC
 
Kevin Durant moved to 10th on the NBA all-time scoring list but his Phoenix Suns were beaten by the Denver Nuggets.

The 35-year-old went into the game needing 17 points to move past Moses Malone and scored 30 to give him a career total of 27,423 points.

However, it was not enough to stop his side falling to a 119-111 defeat.

Nikola Jokic starred for Denver, scoring 21 points and having 16 assists, while all five starters scored at least 15 points.

Elsewhere, the Orlando Magic beat the Washington Wizards 130-125 to equal a franchise record of nine straight wins.

German forward Franz Wagner scored 31 points, while Paolo Banchero added 28 points for Orlando.

The Dallas Mavericks were missing Luka Doncic following the birth of a daughter as they fell to a 108-94 loss at home to the Memphis Grizzlies, for whom Desmond Bane scored 30 points.

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid was also absent as the Philadelphia 76ers were beaten 125-119 by the Boston Celtics, who had Jayson Tatum ejected in the third quarter for a second technical foul.

In Friday's other games, the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors 119-106, while the San Antonio Spurs' miserable form continued as they suffered a 14th consecutive defeat, going down 121-106 to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Spurs' number one draft pick Victor Wembanyama missed a game for the first time this season after being ruled out with a tight right hip.

BBC
 
LeBron James scored 31 points as the Los Angeles Lakers won a thriller against the Phoenix Suns to win 106-103 and reached the semi-finals of the NBA's inaugural In-Season Tournament.

James, 38, sank 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers held off a Kevin Durant-inspired second-half comeback.

The win sets up a showdown with the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.

"I've been there a lot in my career and I understand the assignment," said James.

"I was happy I was able to make a couple of plays."

The Lakers dominated the first half to lead 59-47 at the break, but Durant's 31 points in total brought the Suns back into contention, before James' final quarter exploits.

In Tuesday's other quarter-final, Giannis Antetokounmpo starred as the Milwaukee Bucks routed the New York Knicks 146-122.

Antetokounmpo, 29, top-scored with 35 points and registered 10 assists and eight rebounds as the Bucks won to set up a clash with the Indiana Pacers in Thursday's other semi-final.

Antetokounmpo praised his partnership with team-mate Damian Lillard, who weighed in with 28 points, following the victory.

"Game by game we are getting more comfortable," said Antetokounmpo.

"As we play more minutes we're going to be more comfortable together. At the end of the day, I think me and him are setting the tone for the whole team."

Source: BBC Sport

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James stars as Lakers beat Suns to reach semis

LeBron James scores 31 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns 106-103 in a thriller to reach the semi-finals of the NBA's inaugural In-Season Tournament.
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NBA In-Season Tournament: LeBron James helps Los Angeles Lakers set up final with Indiana Pacers​

LeBron James scored 30 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 133-89 to reach the final of the NBA's In-Season Tournament.

James, who will turn 39 on 30 December, also had eight assists and five rebounds in under 23 minutes on court.

The Lakers will face the Indiana Pacers in Saturday's title game after they beat the Milwaukee Bucks 128-119 in Thursday's other semi-final.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham called James "extraordinary" after the team's win.

"He is the ultimate tone-setter," Ham added.

"His energy, him sacrificing his body - three charges. He set the tone for us on both ends of the basketball court for us tonight."

James, who made nine of his 12 attempts from the floor, sat out the fourth quarter with the Lakers in full control having out-scored the Pelicans 43-17 in the third quarter.

In the first semi-final of the inaugural tournament, Tyrese Haliburton scored a team-leading 27 points and added 15 assists to help the Pacers inflict a surprise defeat on the top-seeded Bucks.

"I think we're shocking the world right now," Haliburton said.

"Nobody expected us to be here except for the guys in the locker room."

The Bucks were led by 37 points and 10 rebounds from two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The 2021 NBA champions took a 94-91 lead into the final period, but Bruce Brown put Indiana ahead with just over six minutes remaining and they were able to hold on to reach Saturday's final in Las Vegas.

Source: BBC
 

Kia MVP Ladder: Joel Embiid leaps Nikola Jokic for top spot​

Talented big men swap spots while Tyrese Haliburton delivers again on the big stage at the In-Season Tournament


27 points. 15 assists. 0 turnovers. Dagger 3-pointer. Tyrese Haliburton carves up the Bucks and sends the Pacers to the Championship.
Setting the stage this week is Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.

The 23-year-old drilled a dagger 3 near the end of Indiana’s 128-119 win over Milwaukee in the Semifinals of the in season tournament, and immediately stared down at his right wrist.

“I know what time it is,” he yelled to a crowd of 16,837 at T-Mobile Arena.

The world does too after Haliburton put it on notice Thursday with 27 points sweetened by 15 dimes in leading the Pacers to Saturday’s In-Season Tournament Championship against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Haliburton scored a combined 53 points in matchups against juggernauts Boston and Milwaukee with 17 rebounds and 28 assists.

Most notably, he committed zero turnovers.

Source :NBA
 

NBA: Oklahoma Thunder claim overtime win over Golden State Warriors​

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder as they beat the Golden State Warriors 138-136 in overtime.

A Luguentz Dort lay-up sealed victory for the Thunder with 10.2 seconds left.

Stephen Curry scored 34 points for the Warriors - 10 in overtime - as they suffered a 10th defeat in 14 games.

Elsewhere, the Dallas Mavericks lost Kyrie Irving to injury as Luka Doncic scored 32 points in their 125-112 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Irving received treatment on the court for several minutes after injuring his right foot in the second quarter and was later withdrawn after trying to play on.

The Mavericks guard was fouled by Portland centre Duop Reath and team-mate Dwight Powell accidentally stepped on his foot after he fell to the floor.

Slovenian Doncic also had 10 assists and six rebounds for the Mavericks, while Dante Exum scored 23 points to seal a 13th win of the season.

The Chicago Bulls came from 13 points down to seal a fourth consecutive win as Coby White scored 24 points in their 121-112 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, who tied a franchise record set last season with a 16th defeat in a row.

Victor Wembanyama, 19, the number one pick in this year's draft, provided the only bright point for the Spurs with 21 points and 20 rebounds, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game.

Fred VanVleet scored 26 points as Houston Rockets claimed a first away win of the season, beating Denver Nuggets 114-106 to inflict their first home defeat.

Philadelphia 76ers ran out 125-114 winners at the Atlanta Hawks as Joel Embiid starred with 38 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots.

The Brooklyn Nets cruised past the Washington Wizards 124-97 to claim a sixth win in seven games, while the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a slow start away to the Miami Heat, outscoring them 21-2 in a crucial phase in the second and third quarters, as they claimed a 111-99 victory.

Meanwhile, Gordon Hayward top-scored as one of four Charlotte Hornets players to reach the 20-point mark in their 119-116 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Scottie Barnes weighed in with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Raptors but missed a key late throw as they lost for the fifth time in a six games.

The Boston Celtics had Jaylen Brown ejected in the fourth quarter for arguing with an official from the bench, but still claimed a 133-123 victory at home to New York Knicks as Derrick White scored a season-high 30 points.

The Detroit Pistons fell to a 19th consecutive loss, going down 123-91 at the Orlando Magic. Franz Wagner scored 27 points and Paolo Banchero added 24 for the hosts.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (four), Troy Brown Jr (four) and Shake Milton (three) combined for 11 three-pointers for the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Karl-Anthony Towns led the scoring with 24 points, as they pulled away from the Memphis Grizzlies in the third quarter to win 127-103.

De'Aaron Fox scored 23 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter as the Sacramento Kings won 114-106 at the Phoenix Suns.

And the Los Angeles Clippers ended an 11-game losing streak in Salt Lake City with a 117-103 victory away to the Utah Jazz, featuring a season-high 41 points from Kawhi Leonard.

Source: BBC
 
That was a thriller. Curry once again was really good but was unlucky to not end up on the winning side.
 
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