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But how should we separate those three players within the MVP debate? That’s what we’re here to figure out. MORE: Patrick Beverley roasts George for blaming officiating To fans of the Bucks, Rockets and Thunder, there are certainly arguments to be made in favor of each of these players, so don’t take this as the dreaded clump of “media” hating on Antetokounmpo, Harden or George. (To be clear, this writer does not hold an actual MVP vote....

“I think we can make the system even better,” Silver said, “and I think it is critically important that fans in every market have that belief that if their team is well-managed that they can compete.” MORE: The 25 best players to change teams in their prime It’s a nice idea, but virtually impossible in a sport with a five-man starting lineup, where the addition of one player can change the entire dynamic of a franchise for a decade....

Cousins tore his ACL during a recent workout in Las Vegas, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Final tests are expected to confirm that initial diagnosis. MORE: Three questions Lakers must answer after Cousins tears ACL The last few seasons have been injury-plagued for Cousins. He suffered an Achilles injury in 2018 as a member of the Pelicans and a torn quad in 2019 with the Warriors. He agreed to a one-year, $3....

The Nets and Timberwolves earned the No. 7 seeds with victories in their Play-In Tournament openers, and the Hawks and Pelicans captured the No. 8 seeds on Friday night. The NBA Playoff bracket has been finalized, setting the stage for what should be a fantastic postseason run. Which teams will advance beyond the first round? And which contenders could be on upset alert? The Sporting News staff is here to break down each series and offer expert predictions....

We have reached the end of the NBA's regular season, and playoff seeding are settled. Here's a breakdown of the final placement, with games beginning Saturday. MORE: Playoff schedule | NBA Awards Eastern Conference Indiana Pacers: They rested three starters in their season finale against the Magic, with Roy Hibbert and George Hill playing to get a rhythm before the postseason. They wait a matchup with the Atlanta Hawks. Miami Heat: Intent to rest LeBron James down the stretch, Miami has conceded the No....

INDIANAPOLIS — Atlanta's Jeff Teague demolished the Pacers' grand playoff plan. As his teammates set up around the 3-point line, Teague simply blew through open lanes to the basket repeatedly. The Pacers didn't have an answer. MORE: Playoff scoreboard | Live blog Teague scored a playoff career-high 28 points, Paul Millsap added 25 and the eighth-seeded Hawks won their first road playoff game in three years, shocking top-seeded Indiana 101-93 to take a 1-0 lead in the first-round series....

“Obviously, Raptors are way better than the Nets but we’re down. I’m sure we’re going to come back," Embiid told reporters after the loss. “We’re now 0-1, so I’m definitely going to adjust, everybody’s going to adjust. “We did not do a good job of picking up the ball and getting back on defense and so we’ve got to do a better job.” Embiid gave credit to Raptors stars Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam, saying they came ready to play and worked hard for their win....

The 27-year-old forward scored 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting in the first 24 minutes of the Trail Blazers’ Game 4 matchup with the Warriors in the Western Conference finals. He also knocked down five of his six 3-point attempts in the period. In total, Leonard finished with 30 points and 12 rebounds in 40 minutes of action. He added a big dunk in the fourth quarter, as well. The Trail Blazers, however, fell to Golden State in overtime, 119-117....

Point spreads and totals are current as of Saturday morning. Check our odds page for updated Las Vegas lines. No. 1 Golden State Warriors at No. 8 New Orleans Pelicans (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)Game 4 spread, total: Golden State -7, 206 Series lead: Golden State 3-0 The Warriors should feel very fortunate to be up 3-0 this series, rallying from a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit on Thursday to win 123-119 OT as 5-point road favorites....

MVP candidate James Harden led the injury-plagued Rockets to the second seed in the Western Conference, while future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki took a payout in the offseason before leading the new-look Mavericks back to the playoffs for the 14th time in his career. MORE: 8 teams that could win it all | First-round predictions | Buy playoff tickets This season poses another opportunity for Harden to get past the first round for the first time as a Rocket, but the veteran lineup of Dallas has the playoff chops (Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler and Rajon Rondo) to send Houston home with another early exit....

On Friday night, the future of the NBA was on full display in the Rising Stars Challenge. A mainstay at All-Star Weekend, this year brought about a new format in which four teams of seven engaged in a mini-tournament, with the first two games going to 50 and the Championship Game between the first two winners going to 25 points. MORE: Watch the NBA All-Star Game live with Sling TV (3-day free trial)...

Hornets snag Courtney Lee in three-team deal with Grizzlies, Heat The Hornets needed a replacement for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and found a serviceable piece in former Grizzlies guard Courtney Lee. MORE: Ranking this year’s deadline moves by potential impact | Six D-League players who should be signed Charlotte shipped P.J. Hairston to Memphis and Brian Roberts to Miami, which packaged Chris “Birdman” Anderson and two second-round picks and sent them to Memphis....

Kings general manager Vlade Divac shut down trade rumors surrounding DeMarcus Cousins in no uncertain terms Monday, delivering a strong statement to ESPN’s Marc Stein: “We’re not trading DeMarcus. We hope he’s here for a long time.” TRADE RUMORS: These 12 big men could be on the block Speculation about Cousins’ status with the Kings spiked last week when Arizona Sports reported the Suns could get Cousins with a package including center Alex Len, small forward T....

Miami forward James Johnson and guard Dion Waiters are “considered available on the trade market,” according to a report from the Miami Herald. The team is looking to move at least one contract with multiple years remaining this summer, the report says. Miami president Pat Riley said in April he believes the team can improve this offseason. “I think we have built a base,” Riley said, via the Miami Herald....

Los Angeles had a “tentative deal in place” to acquire the 24-year-old forward from the Bulls in late January in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Michael Beasley, according to a report from The Athletic, which cites unidentified league sources. The trade, however, fell apart because Caldwell-Pope, who needed to approve any move, waited to sign off on the deal. The Lakers then turned their attention to Anthony Davis once he requested the Pelicans trade him....

NEW YORK — As the Pelicans approach the one-year anniversary of the DeMarcus Cousins blockbuster trade, it’s all quiet on the Cousins trade front. Yup, just like last season, when it also was deathly quiet on the Cousins trade front after the Kings told Cousins they were intent on keeping him and re-signing him to a maximum contract north of $200 million. Here’s the difference a year later: Unless something drastic happens between now and the trade deadline, Cousins will remain in New Orleans for the rest of the season and cash in this summer when he enters free agency with a deal in excess of $185 million....

Ibaka is about to be an unrestricted free agent for the first time. He signed an extension with the Thunder back in 2012 that looked very team-friendly then and only improved as the salary cap exploded over the last few seasons. This year, he makes $12.25 million, less than almost all of the equivalent players around the league and even now-former teammates Jeff Green and Bismack Biyombo. That reality also makes it more likely Ibaka will try to maximize his value with his best (and possibly only) shot to sign a lucrative contract in or near his prime....

Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki each played their last home games for their respective teams, as both have plans to retire after the season. The Heat and Mavericks were both able to secure quality wins for their superstars on such an important night. Wade scored a game-high 30 points for Miami in its 122-99 triumph over Philadelphia. After the contest, he gifted jerseys to all of his teammates. Nowitzki scored 30 points of his own in Dallas....

N.C. State won the opening game, 10-4, after padding their lead with four runs in the top of the ninth. Stanford led off the bottom of the ninth with a Drew Bowser single to right field and then Tommy Troy reached base after N.C. State made a fielding error. A fly to left by Carter Graham gave the Cardinal one out, bringing Grant Burton to the plate. Burton hit a slow roller to second, and the Wolfpack made a force out at second....