LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers had their chances with the shot that’s the only one easy enough to have the word “free” in front of it.

But in the final minutes of their first home loss of the season, a 119-118 collapse against the Orlando Magic, the unguarded 15-footer was the biggest hurdle.

Anthony Davis missed three clutch ...Read more

The Timberwolves' losing streak at Toronto reached 20 years and 20 games with Thursday night’s 110-105 loss at Scotiabank Arena.

The Wolves haven’t won in Toronto since January 2004, back when Kevin Garnett was on his way to his MVP season and started that game in a lineup with Sam Cassell, Latrell Sprewell, Trenton Hassell and Ervin ...Read more

President Joe Biden dropped two bits of trivia during his Thursday afternoon address in the White House’s Rose Garden.

First, that his Secret Service code name is “Celtic,” because of his Irish heritage. Second, that the 1962-63 Boston Celtics were the first NBA team ever to visit the White House, after an invitation from Massachusetts ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — What comes after DEFCON 2?

These are dire days in 76ers Land, with the team’s inability to stay healthy looking worse than ever.

The 76ers arrived home from their 0-3 road trip to find everyone on alert. Luckily for them, Joel Embiid broke out of his funk Wednesday with season highs of 35 points and 11 rebounds in a 117-111 ...Read more

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Joel Embiid sounded off after details from the 76ers’ lengthy team meeting Monday night — including that teammate Tyrese Maxey called out the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player for tardiness — surfaced through multiple reports citing anonymous sources, saying “whoever leaked that is a real piece of [expletive].”

“We ...Read more

CHICAGO — Teresa Weatherspoon doesn’t want to dwell on the past.

That’s easy to say. Harder to execute. But as she embraces a new role with Unrivaled — a 3-on-3 league that will debut in January — the former Chicago Sky coach wants to focus on the future.

Weatherspoon will coach the Vinyl Basketball Club, an Unrivaled team that ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Feeling Onyeka Okongwu wrapped around his ankles, Steph Curry picked up his head and flung a HORSE shot off the glass.

Once he picked himself up from off the floor, right next to Okongwu, Curry high-fived a toddler sitting courtside in the corner. M-V-P chants followed as Curry finished off the and-1.

That bucket initiated 17...Read more

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It was finally the debut of the 76ers’ All-Star trio.

And then it wasn’t.

Tyrese Maxey returned from a six-game absence with a hamstring injury Wednesday night, but Paul George left early in the second half with left knee hyperextension in a 117-111 loss to the Grizzlies Wednesday night at FedEx Forum to drop the Sixers ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — De’Anthony Melton will miss the rest of the 2024-25 season with a sprained left ACL.

Melton, 26, is scheduled to get surgery on his knee in the near future, the Warriors announced. While he has missed the past two games, he and the team were diligent about seeking multiple opinions for his injury. The best course of action, ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mark Pope talks differently.

Through seven months on the job, one thing we’ve learned about Kentucky’s new head coach is that he doesn’t talk like any previous Kentucky basketball head coach.

We should have known that, of course. No other Kentucky men’s basketball head coach spent three years in medical school — ...Read more

MIAMI — At 6-7 amid this five-day break in their schedule, the Miami Heat find themselves in an all-too-familiar place — chase mode.

A year ago, there was the push back from a 1-4 start. Two years ago, there was a 5-7 start. And in 2021, there was the mediocrity of a 7-5 open.

“And when you’re dealing with a small margin for error ...Read more

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tyrese Maxey will return for the 76ers’ game Wednesday night at the Memphis Grizzlies, after missing the previous six games with a strained right hamstring.

The Sixers hope getting Maxey back will ignite a turnaround following a dreadful 2-11 start to a season that began with championship aspirations. Wednesday will mark ...Read more

MILWAUKEE — Patrick Williams is sidelined again with pain in the same foot that ended his 2023-24 season — but the Chicago Bulls aren’t panicking just yet.

After experiencing soreness in his left foot, the fifth-year forward returned to Chicago after Monday’s road win against the Detroit Pistons while the rest of the team traveled to ...Read more

CHICAGO — Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese will play for Rose Basketball Club in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.

Reese will join former Sky players Kahleah Copper and Azurá Stevens on the Rose roster along with guards ​​Chelsea Gray, Brittney Sykes and Lexie ...Read more

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — With 15 years’ hindsight, Russell Westbrook has some nitpicks for his first career triple-double.

He can remember the opponent on command. Oklahoma City hosted the Dallas Mavericks that day. And he can remember the stat line. Two-thirds of it, at least.

“I only had 10 rebounds and 10 assists,” Westbrook recalled in the...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Almost 11 months ago to the date, Dalton Knecht was in his worst slump of the season. The jump from the Big Sky Conference to the SEC had been going great, the points were pouring in, a faucet that couldn't be stopped.

And then — trouble.

He went 2 for 7 against Georgia State, 1 for 7 against North Carolina State and 2 for 7 ...Read more

CHICAGO — After receiving the No. 3 pick in the WNBA draft lottery Sunday, the Chicago Sky are drawing a clear road map for next spring’s draft.

The Sky have two major roster needs this offseason: adding efficient shooters after finishing last in the league in 3-point production and improving at the point to initiate the offense more ...Read more

LeBron James stood at midcourt early in the fourth, his hands on his hips while a faint cheer began to echo through the building.

“M-V-P. M-V-P.”

For 22 seasons, James has been on the court while those letters were shouted at him, the league’s all-time leading scorer, one of its greatest players earning the adoration in buildings all ...Read more