LAS VEGAS — The Aces beat the New York Liberty, 95-81, in Game 3 of their WNBA semifinal series Friday at Michelob Ultra Arena.

It was the Aces’ first win against the Liberty this season, cutting the series lead to 2-1.

Game 4 will return to Michelob Ultra Arena at noon Sunday.

Aces coach Becky Hammon said pregame that she was waiting for...Read more

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Because the Lynx found their offensive rhythm without losing their defensive resolve, they are one victory away from their first WNBA Finals appearance since 2017.

The unquestioned star of their 90-81 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Friday night was Napheesa Collier. The former University of Connecticut standout had 26...Read more

ATLANTA — Hawks rookie forward Zaccharie Risacher knows that he will have an adjustment period when he makes his NBA debut when the regular season begins. But he’s setting himself to make the transition to the league go as smoothly as possible.

The 19-year-old already has put on over 20 pounds from the pre-draft process as he gets ready for...Read more

ATLANTA — Perhaps his former head coach said it best.

“The world is a better place because of Dikembe Mutombo.”

That sentiment was shared by many who knew the man, including that of former Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens, who recently reflected on his former player and friend.

Yes, Mutombo was a great basketball player. The list of his on-...Read more

NASSAU, Bahamas — The rivalry between the 76ers and New York Knicks is one of the most storied in NBA history. And it may have gone up a notch after the Knicks acquired four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday in a three-team blockbuster trade, which included the Charlotte Hornets.

After re-signing OG...Read more

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Patrick Ewing is coming home.

The Knicks announced the franchise legend will be joining the franchise in a newly-appointed position of basketball ambassador Friday afternoon. Ewing will assist with both basketball and business operations.

“As I said the day my number 33 jersey lifted into the rafters at MSG, I will ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Bronny James is ready for his NBA preseason debut. And like every other basketball game he's ever played, LeBron James will be watching.

The Lakers' 39-year-old star will not play in the team's preseason opener Friday against Minnesota at Acrisure Arena in the Palm Springs area, according to people familiar with the decision not...Read more

Caitlin Clark’s rookie season in the WNBA has come to a close, and it’s safe to say that few athletes have experienced the intensity of both adulation and criticism that she did in her first year as a pro.

Former UConn star and WNBA legend Sue Bird spoke about Clark, and the various narratives that have emerged surrounding her on both ...Read more

NASSAU, Bahamas — Joel Embiid has yet to scrimmage at 76ers training camp.

The 2022-23 NBA MVP reiterated that he’ll be more proactive in managing his health this season after he was asked about playing with Paul George.

“I haven’t played,” Embiid said Thursday after the morning practice at Atlantis Paradise Island. “I’ve just ...Read more

LAIE, Hawaii — Andrew Wiggins missed his third straight day of training camp with an illness and won’t play in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Clippers in Honolulu.

“Still sick, unfortunately,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said of Wiggins. “I’m not worried about Wiggs because he’s been here the past couple of weeks and...Read more

CHARLESTON, S.C. — This was the day the Knicks had been waiting for. The next chapter of their ambitious blueprint had finally begun.

Karl-Anthony Towns, the crown jewel of their blockbuster trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves, was on the floor. After nearly a week of delays and salary-cap hurdles, Towns was finally donning a Knicks ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers’ repentant point guard who has vowed to be more engaged this season, answered some questions Thursday as drama-free as possible.

“The main goal is basketball. I think I do that,” he said. “Obviously a lot of people get distracted from that and everything else matters but basketball. For me,...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — If there was a theme to emerge from the Timberwolves’ official introductions of their new players, it was just how much Julius Randle enjoyed playing for Wolves coach Chris Finch.

That was six years ago, and it was only for one season while Randle was in New Orleans when Finch was an assistant for the Pelicans.

But at a ...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls are signing Josh Primo to an Exhibit 10 contract, paving the way for the 21-year-old guard to join the Windy City Bulls.

Primo was drafted No. 12 in the 2021 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs, becoming the youngest player in the league when he debuted in October 2021. The guard has logged only two games in the ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Corey Frazier is back in a familiar spot at Overtime Elite, the Atlanta-based program that has emerged as a lucrative prep basketball pathway for future college and professional players.

As the head coach of OTE’s RWE team during the 2023-24 season, Frazier — a former pro-skills trainer at OTE who played college ...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The best thing going for the Clippers this season – besides finally having a home to call their own – might be that no one outside of the Intuit Dome expects much from them.

Kawhi Leonard is, generally speaking, questionable.

James Harden is 35.

Paul George is in Philadelphia.

The Clippers’ otherwise younger and ...Read more

CHARLESTON, S.C. — “Damn. We really got my dog over here.”

It’s Day 2 of training camp at McAlister Field House on The Citadel’s campus, and as head coach Tom Thibodeau runs through offensive and defensive philosophies, Josh Hart can’t help but get nostalgic.

Hart’s relentless pursuit of Mikal Bridges — clowning him from across...Read more

NEW YORK — The Las Vegas Aces aren’t washed. They aren’t even a vastly diminished version of their 2023 champion selves.

The 2024 Liberty team is just a squad destined to avenge a heartbreaking 2023 WNBA Finals loss with pieces put together by a proficient front office.

The “scars” — head coach Sandy Brondello mentioned during ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Just after 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Timberwolves, Knicks and Hornets made official a multi-faceted trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to New York and netted the Wolves Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop and a protected 2025 first-round pick via Detroit.

For the past five days, the respective social media teams had...Read more