But, in a rare moment, Durant didn't fit that mold during the Thunder's 98-95 overtime loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. MORE: Westbrook completes 4-point play | Perkins’ screen equal sitting on Miller Durant's stat line looks solid to the blind eye — 30 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in 49 minutes — but a closer look brings out numbers that just don't apply to the eventual MVP on a regular basis....
MORE: Westbrook, Beverley trash talk continues after Game 5 The Rockets lost three of four to the Spurs this season, which is a familiar result: It was the third straight season in which Houston finished 1-3 against their in-state rivals. But the overall numbers are deceiving, because all four games were remarkably close. Three of the games were decided by two points, and one by six points. Most memorable was a game in early March, which Leonard won by scoring 39 points, including late 3-pointer followed by a decisive block on Harden on the other end....
That means the East is already lagging behind the West, but it appears the Warriors-Spurs series might not last too long. MORE: Lose-by-36 Pop is the best Pop The Warriors demolished the Spurs 136-100 on Tuesday night in Game 2, taking advantage of Kawhi Leonard’s absence and taking a 2-0 series lead in the West finals. MORE: Pop’s old comments about Bowen don’t mean he’s wrong about Pachulia The game was barely competitve, a foreboding look at San Antonio’s chances without its star forward....
The big question is how quickly will Los Angeles be able to shake off the effects of its prize fight against San Antonio and if Houston is still hot after sitting at home for nearly a week. MORE: Wizards, Warriors open with wins | Curry to get MVP honor | PHOTOS: Second round of playoffs Schedule/TV (All times Eastern) Game 1 — May 4, at Houston, 9:30 PM, TNT Game 2 — May 6, at Houston, 9:30 PM, TNT Game 3 — May 8, at L....
The Bucks beat the Celtics 123-116 at TD Garden in Game 3, claiming a 2-1 lead in the series. Giannis Antetokounmpo had a statement game, recording 32 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for Milwaukee. He also protected the paint and recorded three blocks on the night. Kyrie Irving scored a team-high 29 for the Celtics following Boston’s Game 2 loss, but the Celtics’ bench lost the points battle to Milwaukee by 26....
The NBA reached out to the Canadian rapper and asked him not to travel to Oakland due to “security concerns,” according to a report from TMZ, which cited multiple unidentified sources. Drake’s dad, Dennis Graham, told TMZ that he thought some of the “security issues” might be from Warriors fans who hold a grudge for how Drake acted on the sideline during the finals. “When people see you in Toronto and you’re making sideline things like that you have to be careful,” Graham said....
Despite leading the Warriors to an NBA-best 17-0 start, Walton is currently ineligible as an interim coach to win the award. Instead, Steve Kerr, who is out while rehabilitating persistent back problems, is technically 17-0. MORE: Bold predictions for Warriors | Report: Jahlil Okafor threatened with gun in October However, Walton is unconcerned with the unfortunate technicality. Kerr is awarded the wins because he still participates in practices and is available for most halftimes....
MORE: Kevin Durant’s mother trolls Thunder fans with cupcake shirt The name change is part of a multiyear partnership between the NBA and Gatorade, according to Sports Illustrated. From SI’s report: “This is the first deal between a U.S. professional sports league and an entitlement partner. As part of the deal, a new NBA G-League logo will be featured on new game balls, team jerseys, on-court signage and digital properties....
But Fielkow was no politician. He’d been a sports-business lifer, serving as deputy commissioner of the Continental Basketball Association and as president of minor-league baseball’s Southern League before he joined the Saints. So when a friend at Li’l Dizzy’s introduced him to former ABA star Mack Calvin, it was serendipitous. Calvin was in town doing post-Katrina work, and was a member of the National Basketball Retired Players Association. It just happened that the organization needed a new CEO....
This past weekend, Bryant was invited to the exclusive Gentlemen’s Supper Club held every season at the All-Star break by Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony. There Bryant was shown plenty of respect, and his fellow superstars had a bit of fun at the 37-year-old’s expense. MORE: How to ensure every dunk contest is as good as 2016 | Watch all of Aaron Gordon’s Zach LaVine’s dunks According to The Associated Press, Wade prepared the 18-time All-Star for retirement with a customized robe and a one-year subscription to Netflix, while Paul outfitted Bryant with dental adhesive, reading glasses, compression socks and a cane....
Pardon Okafor his confusion, he has not spent much time in New Orleans. But he is aware that could change soon. The Pelicans have been among the top teams pursuing an Okafor trade as the deadline closes in next Thursday. “There’s a bunch of trade rumors,” Okafor said on Friday. “New Orleans. Chicago. Ten different teams. So, I said it before, I just have to do whatever I can control....
Butler returned to Minnesota this week, but he hasn’t backed down from his trade request, according to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski. The four-time All-Star told Thibodeau he still wants to be traded, refusing to change his mind three weeks after giving the Timberwolves his initial list of teams. MORE: Butler has about 50 million reasons to want trade right now The Timberwolves were reportedly close to finalizing a deal with the Heat over the weekend, but after Minnesota pushed for more in the trade, the conversation fell apart, leaving Butler and the Wolves stuck in neutral....
The words of the loquacious forward directed at Paul Pierce during an epic trash-talking session last season fit the former No. 1 overall pick like a fine, tailored European suit. “You’re not Kobe.” MORE: What team is the best fit for Kyrie Irving? In context, Green was keeping it funky with the now-retired Pierce, letting him know his legacy — or lack thereof — wasn’t worthy of an elaborate farewell tour such as the one the entire league participated in during the former Lakers great’s final season in 2015-16....
The Lakers star was cleared to play against the Suns by the team’s medical staff, but it became obvious early in the contest that he didn’t have his normal level of mobility. Davis, fighting through a left groin injury he suffered earlier in the series, struggled to run up and down the court, let alone attack the basket or defend Phoenix’s guards on switches. MORE: Shaq rips Lakers for pitiful Game 5 showing vs....
Mitchell’s words came after an NBC host asked her if she thought Biden’s campaign expected such a “dismal finish” in the Iowa caucuses and not-so stellar prospects for performing well in Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary. “Not at all,” Mitchell said. “[The Biden campaign] could place fifth certainly fourth, and the fact is they’re beginning to have that feeling of a loser. And when you saw that Quinnipiac poll, which showed that he has lost 22 points in African American support, he had talked about South Carolina as being his firewall, that is no longer the case....
Schiff rebuked the NBC News host’s suggestion Sunday that “it seems odd” the House Democrat-led impeachment investigation is “stopping,” despite overwhelming evidence and leads pointing to the guilt of Trump administration officials in the Ukraine quid pro quo allegations. The California Democrat said he won’t “foreclose the possibility” of more public hearings and explained why he and other House Intelligence committee members didn’t ask for the Ukraine whistleblower to testify, despite previously making such requests....
The National Collegiate Athletic Association made the filing on Dec. 23. According to the filing, the NCAA wants to use the term both to promote public awareness about the benefits of wearing masks, along with advertising and marketing around masks as a protection of viral infections. You can see the basic details of the trademark filing via the Twitter of Josh Gerben, the founder of Gerben Intellectual Property: MORE: College Football Playoff schedule...
He won’t even pull his car into Coach’s parking place, even though it is technically his space now. Williams is well into his second decade as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels. Dean Smith left the job not quite 20 years ago. MORE: Williams finally finds relief from NCAA-sized headache So here is where it gets tricky for Ol’ Roy. He has a problem for which there really is no solution— aside from losing, which certainly is less desirable and does not appear to be in the plans....
Yeah, that's Georgetown, not George Washington. Not only were they left off this year's shirt, but their neighbor Georgetown took their spot. Here's the amazing thing though: After hours of this thing being available online, the graphic hasn't been updated on the NCAA's website. So go ahead and order, Georgetown fans. We can't guarantee your logo will be there when you receive the shirt. MARCH MADNESS GEAR: Get the apparel for your school right here...
The Musketeers actually have the Bulldogs to thank for the first goal, which occurred with roughly 20 seconds remaining in the half: Gonzaga freshman guard Kamar Baldwin accidentally scored an own goal trying to rebound a missed Xavier jumper. MORE: Gonzaga-Xavier live updates Gonzaga managed to score with 2.5 seconds remaining in the half to bring the score to 49-39, but that didn’t stop Xavier from giving the Bulldogs one last scare at the buzzer:...
