The LeBron James Family Foundation opened the I Promise School in Akron, Ohio , welcoming 240 at-risk students through the front doors for the first time. James addressed an excited crowd of parents and students to explain why he chose to build a public school and provide a safe environment for those in his community. MORE: How can LeBron become next Lakers legend? Here’s his checklist “I know exactly what these 240 kids are going through,” James said in front of the new school....

The odds facing the Raptors entering these playoffs mirror what Lowry has dealt with his entire career. Lowry never quite receives his proper due, no matter how well he plays or how much heart he shows. As has become the norm, he showed both in a tight 115-113 Game 5 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Lowry was hot from the onset, producing 21 points and an impossible buzzer-beater in the first half of play....

LeBron James put up 35 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a 135-102 blowout win Thursday night, leading the Cavs to the Eastern Conference crown over the Celtics. Cleveland controlled Game 5 from the start, jumping out to a 43-27 by the end of the first quarter. It was a great season for Boston, but James still reigns supreme. MOCK DRAFT: After lottery win, who will Celtics take No....

Brogdon is looking at a restricted free-agent contact next summer — no matter how quickly he heals — of four years and just north of $60 million, according to executives around the league. As one general manager told SN last week, Brogdon will be due a deal that counts as “Marcus Smart-plus.” NBA PLAYOFFS 2019:Full schedule | Picks from first round to Finals Smart signed for four years and $52 million with Boston last summer....

In the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report (via ESPN), it was ruled that Sixers forward Tobias Harris grabbed at Allen in the waning seconds, which stopped him from being able to release the ball. A foul wasn’t called, but if it was, Allen would have had the chance for two free throws, which could have tied the game. Instead, the 76ers had time to converge on him and Allen eventually turned the ball over....

The Warriors star became the all-time leader in postseason 3-pointers Saturday during his team’s 121-104 victory over the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs at Oracle Arena. Curry reached the feat in the third quarter with his eighth 3-pointer of the night to give him 386. He entered the matchup seven behind Ray Allen. “That’s pretty special. I mean, I always talk about longevity and the all-time great shooters....

The Warriors can boast the best regular-season record (67-15) in the league and have the NBA’s top defense. The Grizzlies have their work cut out for them in trying to contain MVP-candidate Stephen Curry. Memphis could be without star point guard Mike Conley, who is doubtful for Game 1 after undergoing surgery to repair multiple facial fractures. MORE: Curry’s high school and college coaches explain his success | Gasol makes fan’s day...

Toronto and Philadelphia both blew out their opponents in Game 5 to advance to the second round. Both sides were upset in Game 1, but won four straight to eliminate their opponents. The Raptors topped the Magic 115-96 behind a 27-point performance from Kawhi Leonard. Toronto moved the ball well and won the assist battle, 34-20. On the other side, the 76ers jumped out to a 14-0 lead en route to a 122-100 victory over the Nets....

New York is favored to win the Las Vegas Summer League, and although it’s just a quick 10-game slate, it would be a good sign of things to come for the season ahead, with the addition of RJ Barrett. Barrett, who was selected third overall in this year’s draft, is just one of the highly touted rookies set to make his NBA “debut” in the exhibition league. New York was listed at 10/1 favorites entering the Fourth of July holiday with an advantage over Philadelphia, Portland and San Antonio, which were all 12/1, according to SuperBookUSA....

Only hours ahead of Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Nike founder Phil Knight and Dodgers part-owner Alan Smolinisky made an offer to purchase the Trail Blazers. Wojnarowski added that Knight and Smolinisky put more than $2 billion on the table. Discussions of a potential sale are still ongoing with the Paul Allen Trust that’s currently overseeing the franchise, per Wojnarowski. As Bleacher Report’s Sean Highkin noted, an ownership change could be complicated because the NBA’s Trail Blazers and the NFL’s Seahawks are held in the trust rather than owned by an individual....

Golden State traded Damian Jones and a 2026 second-round draft pick to the Hawks in exchange for Omari Spellman, the teams announced Monday. Spellman was the 30th overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, but he only played in 46 games in his rookie season and averaged 5.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game. Jones was also the 30th pick and was selected in 2016 by Golden State....

Don’t count on a deal involving Walker before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, though. The Hornets are taking calls about the team’s leading scorer, but only a big offer would grab general manager Rich Cho’s attention. TRADE RUMORS: Top targets, latest news ahead of deadline “Just like every team, we do our due diligence,” Cho said on a media conference call Wednesday afternoon. “We’re not shopping Kemba, but it’s our job to listen to different opportunities to improve the team....

“You made an allegation of widespread fraud, you’ve failed to offer specific evidence of that widespread fraud, but you’re demanding an investigation on the ground there’s allegations of widespread fraud,” Todd said to Johnson during an interview on the program Sunday. “Essentially, you’re the arsonist here,” the host added. “President Trump is the arsonist and you’ve started the fire… you didn’t have the guts to tell the truth that this election was fair....

Manuel Torres, a deputy with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, refused to be alone with the unnamed female deputy, invoking the so-called “Billy Graham Rule,” a practice among some male evangelicals to avoid being alone with a woman they are not married to. The rule is named for late evangelical icon Billy Graham, but more recently has been connected to Vice President Mike Pence, who says he abides by the principle....

According to this list posted Monday night by handicapper RJ Bell of pregame.com, a pretty decent one; UNC is among the way-too-early favorites at 12-1. Much will happen between now and next year’s March Madness, namely the NBA Draft, transfers and injuries, so take these odds with a grain of salt (unless you really, really want to lock in Michigan State at 20-1). Here’s a look at the full odds to win the 2017-18 NCAA men’s basketball championship, according to Vegas Insider: Odds to win 2018 NCAA Championship

It’s still a big deal, though, because Duke-North Carolina remains the greatest rivalry in American sports. Krzyzewski is 49-46 against a series of Tar Heels coaches, including Hall of Famers Smith and Roy Williams. This isn’t one of those rivalries where one team wins every game for 10 years and they still brag about the good old days. These are the good old days. Whether the rivalry still sizzles beyond Coach K’s retirement is up his successor, Jon Scheyer, and current Heels coach Hubert Davis....

Finding a potential champion in the NCAA Tournament bracket was as easy as 1-2-3. Your champion had to rank in the top 20 in the nation in offensive efficiency, as measured at kenpom.com. It didn’t necessarily have to be there as the tournament began, but it had to be close and climb in the rankings as it stormed through the tournament. MORE: Printable bracket | Region breakdowns: Midwest | East | South | West...

Quick, name a Cavalier? Just one. And Kyrie Irving does not count for the purpose of this exercise. PHOTOS: Best shots from the round of 32 Virginia is a team with defensive choreography that would thrill Susan Stroman, every move by one Cavs player leading to a connected reaction from a teammate. As a unit, they are far greater than their individual talent would suggest. They won their 30th game of the season Sunday by embarrassing the Memphis Tigers, 78-60, in the 2014 NCAA Tournament round of 32, and that one carried them to the East Region semifinals for a Friday night date with the Michigan State Spartans at Madison Square Garden....

It was the latter on Saturday night between Wisconsin and Arizona, and the Badgers are the team left standing. Frank Kaminsky scored a game-high 28 points, and No. 2 seed Wisconsin beat top seeded Arizona 64-63 to become the second team to earn a Final Four berth. Nursing a 1-point lead in the final seconds of the extra session after an out-of-bounds call went against them, the Badgers defended Nick Johnson well enough that he could not get off a shot in the final 2....