Warriors (43-10 SU, 32-20-1 ATS) at Wizards (33-23 SU, 23-32-1 ATS) Line: Warriors -6.5, Total: 205 Basketball fans should be treated a matchup of two of the league’s best point guards, John Wall and Stephen Curry. Curry missed Sunday night’s loss at Indiana but has been upgraded to probable for tonight. Bradley Beal remains out for Washington. The Wizards are among the worst spread-covering teams in the league and have started to fade in the standings, going 2-8 straight up in their last 10 games....

Spurs (44-25 SU, 32-35-2 ATS) at Mavericks (44-27 SU, 30-38-3 ATS) Line: San Antonio -3.5, Total: 206 (current NBA spreads and totals) The Spurs have won 10 of their last 12 games, covering the spread nine times during the run. Their latest outing was a dominant performance at Atlanta, a 114-95 win as 1.5-point underdogs. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook lists them as the third favorite to win the NBA championship at odds of 7-to-1....

The biggest storyline from this year’s set of team media days was how players felt about being vaccinated against COVID-19. The vast majority of players have been vaccinated ahead of the 2021-22 season, but a vocal minority has turned the issue into a near-daily topic of conversation. MORE: Andrew Wiggins explains vaccination decision For now, let’s put the opinions to the side and focus on what we actually know about the COVID-19 protocols for the upcoming season....

New team co-owner Marc Lasry indicated Monday that it is down to either Duke’s Jabari Parker or Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins when the Bucks make the second overall selection in the draft Thursday night. Foot surgery for center prospect Joel Embiid last week seems to have knocked Wiggins’ teammate with the Jayhawks out of the Bucks’ plans. MORE: NBA Mock Draft | Parker visits Embiid | GM: You can’t pick Embiid in Top 5...

"I've been blessed and fortunate to be put in a position to have decisions," Randle said. "A big decision for me is whether to declare for the NBA draft or not. Talking with my family, a lot of prayor, I'm deciding to declare for the NBA draft." MORE: Randle in latest NBA mock draft | Early Entry list Randle appeared to be one of the more NBA-ready players in college basketball all season, with his physical style, strength and athleticism on display at all times....

The lottery determined Tuesday that the Pelicans will receive the No. 1 overall pick, shocking nearly everyone. Here are three takeaways from the lottery results: Things could be turning around for the Pelicans New Orleans had a 6% chance to win the lottery and beat the odds to come out on top. The Pelicans have an opportunity to draft this year’s top prospect, Zion Williamson, with the first overall pick....

A few college basketball stars like Murray State’s Ja Morant and Duke’s RJ Barrett have already made their intentions known, but there are plenty of other potential first-round picks who are still on the fence. Which top prospects will declare as part of this year’s draft class? MORE: 13 of the most ill-timed NBA Draft early-entry decisions NBA commissioner Adam Silver won’t announce the picks until draft night on June 20, but it’s never too early to see who will be available for the NBA’s top tankers....

Zion Williamson, Ja Morant and RJ Barrett landed at the top of the NBA Draft board as expected, but the Hawks jumped up the order to select De’Andre Hunter at No. 4. That first domino kicked off a chain of trades and forced draft watchers to play close attention to which team was actually choosing the next player. NBA DRAFT 2019:Grades, analysis for first-round picks | Trade rumor roundup...

MORE: Live results from 2022 NBA Draft Holding the No. 11 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Knicks fans everywhere waited with baited breath to see who the franchise would select, none more than superfans Spike Lee and Stephen A. Smith. Before the pick came in, the diehard Knicks duo were praying for some divine intervention to bless the franchise. After NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced the Knicks would select French forward Ousmane Dieng, who played for the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s NBL, Lee and Smith were beside themselves....

White is a fifth-year senior who started his career as a scrawny, 6-foot point guard in Divison II. However, he’s since shot up to 6-5, grown into his body and frame and become a terrific college basketball player at the highest level who looks to be tailor-made for the NBA. Here’s a quick breakdown of what NBA teams can expect from this interesting late bloomer. NBA TRADE RUMORS: Tracking all the latest moves ahead of the NBA Draft...

The Warriors, fresh off the news of Klay Thompson’s leg injury, opted to select Memphis center James Wiseman with the No. 2 pick, following the selection of Georgia guard Anthony Edwards by the Timberwolves at No. 1. The Hornets also stayed put at No. 3, taking guard LaMelo Ball. There had been talk that they might try to trade the pick in hopes of landing a star like Russell Westbrook....

In total, the two teams enter the 2021-22 season with 13 players who have been named an All-Star at least once in their NBA careers. The Lakers have a combined 57 All-Star selections on their roster, which just so happens to be the most in NBA history. The Nets, meanwhile, have a combined 44 All-Star selections, putting them behind only these Lakers and the 2010-11 Celtics (56) on the all-time list....

The Warriors are hoping to change that. “For sure, that’s the opportunity in front of us,” star guard Stephen Curry said. “We haven’t had that experience before, so it would be a great night to get it done, to take advantage of the home crowd, the energy, how poorly we played in Game 4, to try to make the necessary adjustments energy-wise and focus-wise to get it done. And we’re in really good shape right now to have this opportunity (Monday), and looking forward to it....

After sweeping the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference finals, Golden State will play in its fifth straight NBA Finals series, a stretch only equaled by Bill Russell’s Celtics from 1957-66. But the Warriors will likely be without Kevin Durant (calf) for the start of the series, so expect the bulk of the offense to come from Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. MORE: Don’t underrate Warriors’ NBA Finals streak, Steve Kerr says...

It’s why they turned their attention to a couple of productive veterans in J.J. Redick (one year, $23 million) and Amir Johnson (one year, $11 million), whom they signed to a combined $34 million for only one season, instead of spending almost all of their money on a big-time free agent such as Kyle Lowry, George Hill or Paul Millsap. While Redick and Johnson might not have a long-term future with the 76ers, Redick in particular could make a lasting impact on their up-and-coming core....

The Bucks have reportedly signed the reigning NBA MVP’s 26-year-old brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, to a two-year league-minimum contract, according to multiple reports. The elder Antetokounmpo has some NBA experience, albeit he played just two games with the Knicks after being selected No. 51 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. The 6-7 forward has also played in the NBA G League — where he earned Defensive Second Team honors — and the Greek League, where he was a two-time All-Star....

Dallas star Luka Doncic said it all with his one-emoji response to the news. MORE: Depleted Sixers forced to rely on rookies in loss to Nuggets With two more contests off the upcoming schedule, the NBA will have postponed at least one game for three consecutive days (four total this season) after the Heat-Celtics matchup was removed from Sunday’s slate. As of Sunday, more than two dozen players remained in quarantine or isolation in accordance with the NBA’s health and safety protocols, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania....

If Sterling stands in opposition and refuses to sell the team, Sterling can invoke a clause in the NBA constitution that would allow for NBA owners to collectively force Sterling to sell the team. MORE: Worst owners in sports | Sterling: Clippers not for sale Silver would need 23 owners to support the move in order to successfully oust Sterling, but it does not appear that he will need to round up support....

The 41-year-old guard announced his retirement on Monday afternoon after reports surfaced last week he was “seriously considering” walking away from the NBA. He had one year and $2.5 million left on his current contract. PHOTOS: A look back at Ginobili’s career Ginobili will certainly be a Hall of Famer and go down as one of the most beloved players of any generation. That much became clear as former teammates and opponents shared their thoughts on how Ginobili had impacted the game....