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Sandwiched between a free agency class that significantly altered the league’s landscape last year and one with a similar potential impact coming next summer, the class of 2020 may feel slightly underwhelming. There are, however, plenty of storylines worth following over the coming days. Here’s what you need to know ahead of free agency. When does NBA free agency start? Free agency officially begins at 6 p.m. ET on Friday, November 20....

It is an uncommon twist to have the bulk of NBA free agency over with before the Las Vegas Summer League even has a chance to tip off, especially for a summer in which the likes of LeBron James, Paul George, Chris Paul and Kevin Durant are all free agents. MORE: NBA free agent tracker — see who goes where That’s the situation we have this time around, however. This is especially surprising for James, who has been known to overtake entire summers with his free-agency whims....

There are two teams flying under the radar who could potentially make some noise come playoff time that aren’t really top of mind. MORE: Top NBA moments of 2014 | Grizzlies-Spurs crazy 3 OT game | Pistons wanted Teague, Korver for Monroe The Hawks and the Rockets both sit in third place in their respective conferences as of Wednesday afternoon, but neither team garners significant attention. Last season Atlanta (18-7) looked like it was primed to make a run in the East before starting center Al Horford tore his pectoral muscle and sat out the remainder of the season....

Below are the most recent injury reports for some of the league’s most popular names. Lebron James, Los Angeles Lakers During the first quarter of the Lakers’ Christmas game against the Los Angeles Clippers, James re-aggravated a previously existing groin injury. This most recent injury was not the same that forced James to sit for over a month last season, but one he has been battling with through the current season....

MIAMI — Strange as it sounds, missing shots worked wonders for the Miami Heat. And after the Brooklyn Nets went nearly 2 minutes — a basketball eternity — without the ball down the stretch, the two-time defending NBA champions would soon find themselves two wins from another trip to the Eastern Conference finals. LeBron James scored 22 points, Chris Bosh added 18 and the Heat pulled away late to beat the Nets 94-82 on Thursday night, taking a 2-0 lead in the East semifinals....

Brooklyn Nets center Kevin Garnett had played in 138 career playoff games over 14 appearances prior to his team's second-round matchup with the Miami Heat. He had scored in each of them. When Tuesday's Game 1 ended, however, Garnett's had played through the first scoreless playoff performance of his career. The Brooklyn Nets were defeated, 107-86, and Garnett left little imprint on the game. East playoffs: Previews | Photos...

Because of their precision on offense, San Antonio rarely mounts big numbers in turnovers. Well, that wasn't the case in Wednesday night's Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks. The Spurs shot 58 percent from the field in the first half, but that was because they didn't shoot the ball often. They turned the ball over relentlessly in that span, prompting this tweet from ESPN's Kelvin Pelton. Multiple boxscores indicate the Spurs actually turned the ball over 14 times, but that's beside the point....

Inexplicably, inexcusably, he was horrible in an elimination game. Worse, he didn’t go down swinging. He attempted two shots in the first half of Houston’s 114-75 Game 6 loss to the Spurs. He was indecisive with the ball and got into early foul trouble. He basically blended into the red seats of Houston’s Toyota Center. MORE: Game 6 stats, highlights It will be much easier for Harden if it later comes out he was limited by a legit injury or illness....

The schedule for Monday night’s important slate of games is listed below along with the clinching scenarios and current standings. (For more info on each team, check out the full playoff breakdown HERE.) NBA schedule for Monday, April 9 Raptors vs. Pistons, 7 p.m. Bulls vs. Nets, 7:30 p.m. Thunder vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m. Cavs vs. Knicks, 7:30 p.m. Magic vs. Bucks, 8 p.m. Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves, 8 p.m. Kings vs....

Kevin Durant stole the show with 50 points as Golden State won 129-110 at Staples Center to take the series 4-2 and set up a Western Conference semifinal against the Rockets. Rivers says he could not have asked for any more from his team, which was the conference’s eighth seed and overwhelming underdogs against the two-time defending NBA champions. “I’ve never been more proud of a group of guys in the 20 years that I’ve coached,” Rivers said....

The Eastern Conference is looking top-heavy to start with the Bucks, Raptors, Sixers and Celtics all expected to advance to the second round. The East bracket could have a far-reaching impact on these teams beyond the playoffs with a pivotal offseason on the horizon. Get bounced early, and it could prove costly in free agency. But all of that is down the road. Let’s just break down each Eastern Conference first-round series to start and come up with some playoff picks....

The former AAU teammates did their best Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon impressions as they put on an aerial show in the Rockets’ 111-99 win over the Mavericks on Tuesday night. MORE: Irving looks at home in the playoffs | Batum apologizes PHOTOS: Must-see shots from first-round action Howard was a force in the paint, scoring 28 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to go along with a pair of blocks, while Smith put on a clinic with 15 points (three dunks) and nine assists as the Rockets took a 2-0 series lead....

We have reached the quarter pole of the NBA season, with the bulk of the league’s teams having played 20 games. And if anything stands out thus far, it is the good fellows of the Bay Area, winners of 12 straight and holders of the best record in the league at 17-2. The Warriors have established themselves as the league’s best team, an offensive machine that has quietly morphed into the NBA’s top team when it comes to defensive efficiency — they allow 0....

A lot has changed since March and while the NBA left no stone unturned in its bid to return, the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs will look significantly different from their usual selves. The NBA has invited 22 teams to the bubble at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, where players and coaches have been isolating since the beginning of the month....

Leading Rookie of the Year candidate Ja Morant missed five games due to injury this past month, but his fellow freshmen did little to prove they belonged in the award conversation. Kendrick Nunn, an undrafted revelation for the Heat, had been the most serious challenger to Morant. He shot 41.8 percent from the field and 29.8 percent from deep in December, though, bringing his still-impressive campaign somewhat back to earth....

Between LeBron James, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the league’s leading scorers have been locked in a battle for the scoring crown, separated by less than 0.5 points per game, meaning the scoring title had been essentially anyone’s to win. MORE: Is LeBron James the greatest scorer of all-time? As such, the player that holds the title of the league’s leading scorer can change on a nightly basis, with the title likely not getting decided until the final night of the regular season, which falls on Sunday, April 10....

The North Carolina House passed House Bill 2 on Wednesday to repeal portions of Charlotte’s non-discrimination ordinance passed last month and prohibit any city from attempting something similar. MORE: Athletes’ social issue demonstrations | NBA should take All-Star stand on N.C. law Though the original Charlotte, N.C., ordinance outlined how businesses must treat gay, lesbian and transgender customers, the portion that garnered the most attention was one allowing people to choose public restrooms corresponding with their gender identity....

That is the result of the much-discussed new national TV contract (worth $24 billion over nine years) with ESPN and Turner Sports that kicks in next season. The league will make much more money, and the players will be paid much more money as a result. The question then becomes, how will it be spent? Players will be overpaid. Short-term deals will be crucial. The teams that adapt to the new reality will be rewarded for years to come....

The Orlando Summer League and Utah Summer League ended last week, but the Las Vegas Summer League is in full swing, with 24 NBA teams competing for the NBA Summer League championship. Here’s a look at the top performers, game-winners and other highlights from the first week of summer league play. MORE: NBA free agency tracker Orlando Summer League: Top Performers Okaro White – Miami Heat: 19.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1....