Rather than just listing out the matchups to keep an eye on, we figured it’d be fun to mock draft the remaining players in the tournament, assigning them to NBA teams and discussing their potential fits at the next level. MORE: Every team’s most painful NBA Draft regret So here’s a look at what the 2018 NBA Draft lottery might look like if front offices could only select from the Final Four player pool....
As the playoff picture begins to take shape, the battle for Most Valuable Player is as wide open as ever, with up to seven players having a real shot at taking home the award. Last month, Nets star Kevin Durant took out the top spot in The Sporting News’ MVP Ladder. Since then, several players have boosted their chances. So without further ado, we’ve got you covered with our top five, as of Jan....
The massively important rule changes approved Wednesday by college basketball’s governing bodies rolled the ball back into the NBA’s court. The draft eligibility rules no longer help players. That argument is out the window, where the age limit belongs. MORE: Who goes first in 2016 NBA Draft? | 15 most overpaid in the NBA NBA commissioner Adam Silver wants to move the limit up, to effectively block teenagers from the NBA....
NBA superstars will be front and center on the opening night of the 2015-16 season: LeBron James and Stephen Curry will be on the court, as will Anthony Davis and Derrick Rose. MORE: SN’s NBA season predictions | Awards predictions A capsule look at the first night of NBA action: Cavaliers at Bulls, 8 p.m. ET, TNT A lot of experts expect these teams to meet again in the Eastern Conference playoffs....
Spreads and totals listed here are current as of Tuesday morning. Visit our odds page for updated Las Vegas lines Washington Wizards (5-0 ATS) at Atlanta Hawks (2-5 ATS)Series: Wizards lead 1-0Game 2 Line: Hawks -6.5, Total: 198 (check our odds page) One thing is for sure, the Wizards were ready for the NBA Playoffs. After sweeping the Raptors as the lower seed, the Wiz beat the team with the best record in the East in Game 1, keeping them undefeated in the playoffs....
The 2022 NBA Playoff bracket is down to its usual 16 teams after a Play-In Tournament that featured both thrilling endings and brutal blowouts. Now comes the constant barrage of postseason contests as contenders fight for the right to hold the Larry O’Brien trophy. Wondering which games are on today’s slate? You’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about watching NBA Playoff games, including a complete TV schedule with updated start times and channels....
After all, Golden State has made it to the championship four years in a row, and it’s won three of those times. Players and fans alike have racked their brains for the past few seasons, asking themselves what could dethrone a team that’s not only maintained an amazing core group, but continued to get better. Things could get interesting this year though. So here are 11 reasons to root for someone other than Golden State....
The Sixers took Leonard and the Raptors the distance in their Eastern Conference semifinal series but fell to a 92-90 in the decider in Toronto, with the crucial last-second shot bouncing four times on the rim before dropping in for the first Game 7 buzzer-beater in NBA history. Embiid appeared to be crying after the game, and he found it difficult to later expand on his emotions. “Game 7, losing a game that way, last shot, after a hard-fought game, I felt like we had a chance,” he told reporters....
The Raptors topped the 76ers 101-96, knotting their second-round series at 2-2. Kawhi Leonard torched the 76ers for a game-high 39 points and 14 rebounds. Despite the struggles of Pascal Siakam, who entered the game nursing a calf injury, Toronto prevailed. Once again, Jimmy Butler was a driving force for Philadelphia. He finished with a team-high 29 points and also snagged 11 rebounds in the losing effort. Butler is known for hitting big shots when it counts, and he did just that on multiple occasions....
Both teams were careless with the ball, but the Magic evaporated Toronto’s lead down the stretch and were within three in the closing seconds. It was a clutch rebound by Kyle Lowry that saved the day for the Raptors in the end. The real star of the night was Pascal Siakam though. Siakam totaled a game-high 30 points to go with 11 rebounds in a contest where Kawhi Leonard was 5-of-19 shooting....
In the meantime, we have our first Power Rankings of the 2018-19 season… TRADE RUMORS: Which big men could soon hit open market? Bucks How much has Mike Budenholzer changed the Bucks’ offense? Consider that if Milwaukee continues on its current 3-point pace, they’ll pass last year’s total number of 3s made (718) in Game No. 47. Warriors The Warriors are averaging 125.0 points per game, just 1.5 points off the all-time record of the 126....
The Aspen (Colo.) Times reported the SUV Fegan, 56, was driving was broadsided by a bus as Fegan tried to navigate a mountain highway. MORE: Notable sports deaths of 2018 A sample of Twitter reaction from the league, players, executives and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban: Fegan’s client list at various points included Dwight Howard, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, DeAndre Jordan and Ricky Rubio, among others. His hard-nosed negotiating style earned him respect and scorn within league circles....
Now, let’s go through the other 1,228 games in the NBA season — or at least some of the more interesting notes from Wednesday’s release. MORE: Ranking 10 best games on NBA calendar NBA schedule 2022 winners Rivalries For some, the NBA is all about the drama. If you’re one of those people, then there are plenty of early games to help scratch that itch. The feud between Paolo Banchero and Dejounte Murray during a Seattle pro-am game made headlines this summer....
The last time Banchero and Holmgren faced off against each other was last November when Banchero’s Duke squad defeated Holmgren’s Gonzaga crew 84-81. Banchero had 21 points (8-of-17 FG, 3-of-8 from deep), five rebounds, and two assists; Holmgren posted 16 points (8-of-13 FG), seven rebounds, and three blocks. Below, we’ll look at a few of the best bets for each rookie in tonight’s Vegas summer league opener. All odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook...
The Cavaliers acquired Markannen from the Bulls on a four-year, $67 million contract as part of a sign-and-trade deal that also involves the Trail Blazers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Cleveland will send Larry Nance Jr. to Portland and a 2023 second-round pick to Chicago, and the Bulls will receive Derrick Jones Jr. and a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick from the Trail Blazers, per Wojnarowski. MORE: Damian Lillard says he’s staying in Portland — for now...
LeBron James labeled a New York Daily News report stating that he wants the Cavs to trade Love for Anthony, “trash.” Coach Tyronn Lue said flatly, “He’s not going anywhere," said Love, who could only laugh off the report. “I’m on this team, I’m going to be on this team and we want to win with the guys that we have.” And Love will be one of those guys. Amid all the commotion about a potential trade, Love has quietly put together his best season as a Cavalier, with averages of 20....
Cleveland has “begun to explore trade options” involving Sexton, according to Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo. The 22-year-old is coming off a career year in which he averaged 24.3 points and 4.4 assists per game, but the Cavaliers’ potential interest in a deal has more to do with their financial situation than Sexton’s performance. TRADE RUMORS: 76ers reportedly committed to keeping Ben Simmons Sexton will likely push for a maximum contract, as he is eligible for an extension this summer....
The first-round pick from the Raptors is protected for Nos. 1-20 and will become two second-round picks after one year, per Wojnarowski. Upon hearing the news, Leonard and DeRozan didn’t seem all that excited. Leonard’s reaction makes sense considering the former NBA Finals MVP has been clear about his desire to play in Los Angeles. DeRozan was told he would not be traded during a meeting with members of Toronto’s front office at summer league in Las Vegas, according to Haynes, likely leading to the Instagram post about “no loyalty in this game....
Portland will trade shooting guard Allen Crabbe — who signed a four-year, $75 million contract with the Nets last offseason as a restricted free agent before the Trail Blazers matched the offer to retain him — to Brooklyn in exchange for forward Andrew Nicholson, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Trail Blazers will waive the remaining three years and $18 million left on Nicholson’s contract and utilize the stretch provision to help clear even more money off the books....
